From Turin to Milan: The Veteran Volunteers Powering Italy's Olympic Spirit
Italy last hosted the Olympic Games in 2006 with the Turin Winter Olympics. Now, two decades later, a dedicated group of women who were there are stepping up once again as volunteers for the Milan Cortina Winter Games, embodying a legacy of service and passion.
A small army of approximately 18,000 volunteers is essential to keeping every Olympics running smoothly around the clock. At the Milan Cortina Winter Games, some of these volunteers are seasoned veterans, with experiences dating back 20 years to Italy's previous hosting role.
Spread out across northern Italy, these volunteers blanket the venues in a sea of navy blue uniforms, providing crucial support. The Associated Press recently interviewed three Italian women who are volunteering in Milan, highlighting their unique journeys and contributions.
Cristina Romagnoli: Passing the Torch to the Next Generation
Cristina Romagnoli, now 45, first volunteered at the 2006 Turin Games when she was 25. Assigned to support Ireland's athletes in the Alps west of Turin, she immersed herself in the Olympic spirit, even parading with the team during the closing ceremony as a thank-you for her efforts.
With few photos from that pre-iPhone era, Romagnoli treasures souvenirs like pins, a volunteer guide book, and lunch vouchers. When Milan Cortina was announced, she eagerly signed up for round two. In her hometown of Milan, she volunteers at the short track speedskating venue, assisting with tasks ranging from clothing support to arena maintenance.
"It is about giving our availability and support for the whole competition, for any need there might be either during the game and during the training sessions as well," she explained. Romagnoli hopes her daughters, aged 10 and 11, will carry on this legacy, embracing Olympic values when they are old enough to volunteer.
Angela Frisina: A Life Transformed by Volunteerism
Angela Frisina was 50 when she volunteered in Turin, feeling trapped in a routine between work and home. A colleague's suggestion to apply for the Winter Games sparked a new chapter in her life. Born in Reggio Calabria but raised in Turin, she wanted to give back to her adopted hometown.
During the Games, she worked at a hotel hosting sponsors and delegations, providing directions and tips. This experience opened doors she never imagined. "I didn't go to the cinema. Just work, son, home," she told the AP. "And for me, these Olympic Games opened the window. The door!"
Now 70, Frisina has spent the past two decades volunteering across Italy, including at events like the Vatican Jubilee and Eurovision Song Contest. In Milan, she serves as an usher at the women's ice hockey arena, video chatting with her grandson between shifts to share stories of the people she meets, broadening her horizons through global interactions.
Olivia Azzalin: Building an Olympic Family Legacy
Olivia Azzalin found love ahead of the Turin Olympics while working for the local organizing committee as a sport director assistant from 2001 to 2003. Amid preparations, she fell for a colleague, and by the time the cauldron was lit in 2006, they were expecting a child and planning their wedding. "I think that Olympic Games is a very good Tinder," she joked.
After leaving the committee, Azzalin took a temporary job with Visa to stay involved in the Games. Now 53, she and her son were among the first to apply to volunteer for Milan Cortina, though he couldn't join due to university exams. Azzalin volunteers alone at the Olympic Village in Milan, where her family has lived for nearly 12 years, performing tasks like assembling chairs and helping athletes with recycling.
"It's funny because maybe you saw them the night before on TV," she said of the athletes. Her husband, recalling how the Turin Games brought him a wife and child, has opted to stay home this time, adding a humorous note to their Olympic journey.
These stories highlight the enduring impact of volunteerism, from personal growth to family legacies, as Italy once again hosts the world on the Olympic stage.
