Former captain of Romania\u2019s national team and current head coach of Inter Milan, Cristi Chivu, carried the Olympic flame ahead of the official opening ceremony of the Milano\u2013Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games on Thursday, February 5.<\/p>\n
Chivu carried the torch along a segment of the route in the historic area of Piazza Sant\u2019Ambrogio in Milan, together with family and friends. The Inter coach took photos with those who stopped him and said he felt honored to be carrying the Olympic torch.<\/p>\n
While moving with the torch in his hand, Inter fans applauded him and cheered him with \u201cForza Inter,\u201d \u201cForza Mister,\u201d \u201cAllenatore numero uno,\u201d and \u201cGrande Cristian.\u201d At the same time, \u201cHai Rom\u00e2nia\u201d could be heard from the crowd as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cAn indescribable emotion. Cristian Chivu and the city of Milan shining in the light of the Olympic flame,\u201d the Internazionale Milano club noted on Facebook and X, also posting a short video.<\/p>\n\n
Cristi Chivu was part of a select group of personalities from sports and culture. Alongside him ran emblematic figures of Italy, such as tennis players Flavia Pennetta (US Open champion in 2015) and Francesca Schiavone (Roland Garros winner in 2010), as well as Alberto Cova, Olympic champion in the 10,000 m in 1984. At the same time, the president of the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI), Luciano Buonfiglio, was also part of Cristi Chivu\u2019s group.<\/p>\n