AC Milan coach Allegri joins Olympic Torch Relay amid medallist exclusion controversy

ROME: AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri carried the Winter Olympics torch through Borgomanero, northern Italy, on Wednesday, joining thousands of volunteers in the lead-up to the Milano-Cortina Games from February 6-22.

Some 10,001 torchbearers are participating, wearing white uniforms with a red-and-yellow flame pattern. Allegri’s participation comes amid a growing row over the exclusion of former Olympic medalists from the relay.

Former cross-country skiing champion Silvio Fauner, deputy mayor of Sappada, said he and other decorated athletes feel insulted by being sidelined. “There’s no respect for us champions. I consider it an incredible insult,” Fauner told La Gazzetta dello Sport. He represents 10 athletes who have won 35 Olympic medals and said none were involved in any official Winter Olympics roles in Italy.

Organisers said Fauner was excluded because political officeholders are disqualified, but he highlighted a double standard, pointing out that a local politician was allowed to carry the torch in Sicily. He said he speaks for at least 15 other medal-winning athletes who feel ignored despite their contributions to Italian sports.

In response, Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini and Sports Minister Andrea Abodi called an urgent meeting with Games organisers to review the decisions, saying they wanted to shed light on “very baffling choices.”