Preparations for the opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina Olympics are underway at a very intense pace. The event is scheduled for February 6th, for the spectacle and lighting of the Olympic flame at the San Siro stadium.
These days, the embassies of major countries are also at work, in close coordination with the Olympic Committee.
Washington has confirmed the presence of Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. But still uncertain is, among others, the arrival of Emmanuel Macron, writes Corriere della Sera.
In the authorities' stand at the 'SanSiro' stadium, the French president is expected to sit next to Vance. But, according to rumors, Macron would prefer to sit somewhere else. Apparently, in Paris, the insulting tones used several times by Donald Trump towards the French head of state have not yet been forgotten.
Recall that the US president first mocked Macron for his blue-mirrored glasses, which he actually used to treat an eye irritation. Then he boasted that he could force the head of the Elysee to submit to his demands on the price of medicines. Finally, there was the clash over Greenland, which now seems to be on the way to a resolution.
It is possible that the Olympic Committee will find a solution, although it seems unlikely that Macron will miss a ceremony hosted by Italian President Sergio Mattarella. Moreover, France will host the next edition of the Winter Olympics. We will see.
In parallel, a dense network of bilateral meetings is being prepared, within the framework of official events planned between February 5 and 6. In particular, attention is focused on the dinner of world leaders, with the presence of Mattarella, on the evening of February 5, at the Fabbrica del Vapore, also in Milan.
Meetings are also planned for the coming weeks. For example, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is expected to arrive around February 12 or 13. It is not yet known what his official program will be.