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Police in Italy intercepted and prevented pro-Palestinian activists from interfering with a sacred Olympic tradition on Saturday.
Italian police said the pro-Palestinian activists were prevented from contacting the opening stages of the Milan Cortina torch relay.
Both groups of protesters were removed before reaching the relay route in Rome, according to police.
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The Olympic torch is lit in Greece. (AP Photo/Thanasis Stavrakis)
A third group of about 10 people, monitored by police, waved Palestinian flags as the relay passed by the city’s main university, La Sapienza.
There were also three people carrying signs in support of Venezuela near the US Embassy.
In October, more than two million demonstrators marched through more than 100 Italian cities to protest the war in Gaza.
Olympic champion swimmer Gregorio Paltrinieri began the relay in the statue-lined Stadio dei Marmi and the torch was carried for 20 miles before the day ended in Piazza del Popolo.
The relay will cover almost 7,500 miles and wind through all 110 Italian provinces before reaching Milan’s San Siro Stadium for the opening ceremony on February 6.
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Short track speed skater Jean-Francois Monette lights the Olympic flame at Montreal’s Olympic Stadium during the Olympic Torch Relay on December 9, 2009. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Paul Chiasson)
In total, there will be 10,001 torchbearers.
The next stops on the torch relay are Viterbo on Sunday and Terni on Monday.
Pro-Palestinian protesters causing disruption at sporting events have become increasingly regular over the past year, particularly sporting events involving Israeli teams.
Last month several people were arrested at a football match in the city Great Britain that involved the Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv. Israeli fans of the team were banned from attending the match due to security concerns, but riots still broke out regardless, with anti-Israel protesters nearby.
Several people were arrested at a football match in the city Great Britain that involved the Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv. Israeli fans of the team were banned from attending the match due to security concerns, but riots still broke out regardless, with anti-Israel protesters nearby.
An Israeli cycling team was banned from an October race in Italy, the Giro dell’Emilia, due to concerns over potentially disruptive pro-Palestinian protests. Organizers made the decision after protesters repeatedly disrupted the recent Spanish Vuelta.
Seven of the past 11 days of racing at the Vuelta were canceled or canceled because Spain’s government estimated more than 100,000 people were on the streets of Madrid during the final stage in September.
The protesters said their actions were aimed at condemning Israel’s military campaign in Gaza following Hamas’ deadly attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
