OLYMPICS: Boy forced off bus in snow to play a role in Milano Cortina opening ceremony

MILAN – An 11-year-old boy who was forced off a bus in the snow for not having the full fare will now take part in the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, his mother said.

Riccardo Z, from a town less than 12 miles (20 km) from Cortina d’Ampezzo, did not have enough money to cover a bus fare surcharge introduced by the local transport company for the Olympics. He had to walk six kilometers home in freezing, snowy conditions, sparking outrage from parents and local authorities.

Following the incident, the Milano Cortina 2026 Foundation contacted Riccardo’s family and offered him a symbolic role in the Games’ opening ceremony.

"I've never seen him so happy and excited," his mother, Sole Vatalano, told Italian state broadcaster RAI 1. "It was the most beautiful gift they could have given him."

Riccardo’s story drew nationwide media attention in Italy, highlighting concerns over price surges ahead of the February 6–22 Games. The Foundation has not yet disclosed the exact nature of his role. Riccardo is also a member of a junior skiing team.

The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics will be the first Games hosted across multiple venues. Over 1,300 performers, including about 1,200 volunteers from 27 countries, have been preparing for months in a rehearsal tent near Milan’s historic San Siro stadium.

San Siro, however, will not be the only stage for Friday night’s show. Several ski resorts across northern Italy—including Cortina, Livigno in Valtellina, and Predazzo in Trento province—will share the global spotlight, marking the first-ever “widespread ceremony” in Olympic history. -Reporting by Giselda VagnoniEditing by Keith Weir/Reuters