From the lakes of Northern Piedmont to Lake Maggiore: a journey of shared values and community
The passage of the Olympic torch along the lakes and through Upper Piedmont brought the excitement of major events to every community it touched – athletes, volunteers, mayors, and ordinary citizens alike – accompanying a universal symbol of harmony, solidarity, peace, and coexistence with a festive spirit.
This story was made even more memorable by the Piemonte, the historic steamship launched in 1904 when engines still ran on steam. Serving as an extraordinary torchbearer, it carried the flame across the lake, offering a striking image of a community that tells its story through both its natural beauty and its crafted heritage—works born of effort and skill that, over time, have become living museums; in this case, of the floating kind.
On Lake Maggiore, as in the other Piedmontese stops, the passage of the flame was followed with the participation of families, students, and volunteers who identified with the values of the five Olympic rings, respect, fair play, and self-discipline, values that belong to sport but also resonate in everyday life. For our Piedmont, this passage also offered an opportunity to recall the experience of the 2006 Winter Olympics. Twenty years on, that event has remained a legacy of expertise and passion, a driver of tourism promotion and attraction, and a way to showcase communities that thrive on beauty, hospitality, and a vision for the future.
