Multiple railway disruptions in Italy on the first day of the Winter Olympics, with investigators suggesting possible sabotage targeting Olympic transport.
Railway Infrastructure Damages
On the first day of the XXV Winter Olympics in Italy, a series of railway infrastructure damages occurred. A fire broke out on Saturday (February 7) morning near the tracks at the Pesaro station, near San Marino in the Marche region. The ANSA agency reported that high-speed and regional trains may experience delays of up to 90 minutes on routes from Pescara to Milan and from Ancona to Milan.
Bologna Railway Disruptions
On the same day, Italian media reported railway disruptions at the Bologna Centrale hub due to damaged cables. Traffic was suspended for 45 minutes on the Bologna-Venice route. Other incidents included a homemade explosive device, cut electrical cables, and a damaged power supply box on Bologna-Padua and Bologna-Ancona routes. Italian authorities are not ruling out sabotage.
Olympic Opening Ceremony
The XXV Winter Olympics opening ceremony began on Friday, February 6, at 8:00 PM at Milan’s San Siro stadium. Over 50 heads of state and government attended, including Polish President Karol Nawrocki and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The ceremony featured an artistic performance by Italian Marco Balich with the theme of ancient harmony, with the Italian anthem sung by Laura Pausini.