IOC President Thomas Bach was welcomed in Rome by Giovanni Malagò, IOC member and President of the National Olympic Committee of Italy (CONI) and of the Organising Committee for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Also present throughout the visit was IOC Executive Board member and President of the Olympic Winter Sports Federations Ivo Ferriani.

Later, at the Giulio Onesti Italian Olympic Centre, President Bach met students from the Liceo Sportivo, a special high school for young athletes run in cooperation with CONI. More than 100 pupils from across Italy, aged 13 to 18, receive their education there and have access to elite sports facilities and training.

President Bach also met representatives from across the Italian Olympic Movement at the CONI headquarters in Rome. Accompanied by Giovanni Malagò, he met members of the CONI Executive Board, presidents of Italian sports federations, and many of the people working hard to make Italian Olympic sport the success it is. Also present were IOC member Federica Pelligrini and IOC honorary members Mario Pescante and Franco Carraro. During the meeting, President Bach presented the IOC President’s Award to Italian sport.