Finance
Olympics-Greenpeace stages protest in Milan as torch arrives in the city
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 5, 2026
2 min readLast updated: February 5, 2026
Quick Summary
Greenpeace protested in Milan against Eni's involvement in the Winter Olympics, urging organizers to cut ties due to climate concerns.
Greenpeace Protests in Milan as Olympic Torch Arrives for Winter Games
Greenpeace's Protest Against Eni's Involvement
MILAN, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Environmental group Greenpeace staged a protest in front of Milan's main cathedral on Thursday, the day the Olympic torch arrived in the city co‑hosting the Winter Games.
Visual Statements and Messages
An installation depicted the Olympic rings dripping black oil, a visual denunciation of companies it accuses of contributing to global warming and threatening winter sports dependent on cold conditions.
Eni's Response and Commitment
"Kick polluters out of the Games," read one of the banners in front of Milan's Duomo (cathedral) in the heart of the city.
Olympic Torch Journey and Significance
Greenpeace, which has a filed a climate‑change lawsuit against Eni, has urged the Milano Cortina 2026 organisers to cut ties with the Italian energy major.
It argues that Eni's fossil‑fuel operations undermine efforts to safeguard snow‑based sports as temperatures rise.
The Winter Olympics will run from February 6 to 22. State‑controlled Eni is one of the Games' premium domestic sponsors.
In a statement, Eni said it "shares the importance of addressing climate change" and would continue investing in the energy transition as part of its plan to reach net‑zero emissions by 2050.
The Olympic flame, which began its journey across Italy in December after being lit in Rome, reached northern Milan on Thursday morning.
It was expected to pass in front of Eni's headquarters later in the day.
Designed to build excitement nationwide ahead of the 2026 Games, the torch has travelled through all 110 Italian provinces.
Italian Olympic ski champions Alberto Tomba and Deborah Compagnoni will have the honour of lighting the cauldrons for the Games on Friday, Gazzetta dello Sport reported on Wednesday.
(Reporting by Giselda VagnoniEditing by Keith Weir)
Key Takeaways
- •Greenpeace protested in Milan against Eni's involvement in the Olympics.
- •The protest featured Olympic rings dripping oil, symbolizing climate concerns.
- •Greenpeace urges cutting ties with Eni due to fossil-fuel operations.
- •Eni is a premium sponsor of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games.
- •The Olympic torch has traveled through all 110 Italian provinces.
Frequently Asked Questions about Olympics-Greenpeace stages protest in Milan as torch arrives in the city
1What is Greenpeace?
Greenpeace is an environmental organization that focuses on issues such as climate change, deforestation, overfishing, and pollution, advocating for sustainable practices and policies.
2What is corporate social responsibility?
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) refers to a company's commitment to conducting business ethically and contributing to economic development while improving the quality of life of its workforce, their families, and the community.
3What is climate change?
Climate change refers to significant changes in global temperatures and weather patterns over time, primarily driven by human activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes.
4What are fossil fuels?
Fossil fuels are natural substances formed from the remains of ancient plants and animals, primarily coal, oil, and natural gas, used as energy sources but contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.
