Italy Plans Global Truce for 2026 Winter Olympics

Italy, led by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, will propose a global Olympic truce during the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, seeking to halt all wars including conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. Tajani emphasized Italy's role as a champion of peace and support for the U.S. plan concerning Gaza, urging that hope for peace must never be lost. The Olympic truce, an ancient tradition revived by the United Nations in 1993, aims to temporarily cease hostilities during the Games to ensure safe passage for athletes and spectators. Italy's proposal to the UN highlights the country's position as a crossroads for peace, development, and growth. While the International Olympic Committee does not rule out participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes under certain conditions, ongoing tensions, including Russia's lack of readiness for real negotiations, remain a challenge. The 2026 Winter Olympics will be notable for their split locations and inclusion of new sports like ski mountaineering.