Rome, 11 May (LaPresse) – The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has awarded the Collar of the Olympic Order of Gold, the highest honour in international Olympic sport, to the Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, in recognition of the commitment and support provided by the Government in organising the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Games. This is according to the Government’s website. The award ceremony took place today at Palazzo Chigi. Also receiving the Olympic Collar on this occasion were the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Matteo Salvini, the Minister for Sport and Youth, Andrea Abodi, the Minister for the Economy and Finance, Giancarlo Giorgetti, the Government Special Commissioner for Olympic Works and CEO of Simico SpA, Fabio Massimo Saldini, and the Government Special Commissioner for the organisation and staging of the XIV Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games, Giuseppe Fasiol. The ceremony was attended by Kirsty Coventry, President of the IOC; Luciano Buonfiglio, President of CONI; Giovanni Malagò, President of the Milano Cortina 2026 Foundation; Andrea Varnier, CEO of the Milano Cortina 2026 Foundation, Kirstin Kloster, Chair of the IOC Milano Cortina 2026 Commission, Carlo Mornati, Secretary General of CONI, and the Italian IOC members: Franco Carraro, Manuela di Centa, Ivo Ferriani, Mario Pescante and Francesco Ricci Bitti.