Headlines
Olympics-Italy's president takes the tram in video tribute to Milan transport
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 6, 2026
2 min readLast updated: February 6, 2026
Quick Summary
Italy's President Mattarella honors Milan's transport with a tram ride video during the Milano Cortina Olympics, featuring iconic Carrelli trams.
Italy's President Celebrates Milan Transport with Tram Ride Video
Italy's Tribute to Milan's Transport
By Elvira Pollina
The Video Tribute
MILAN, Feb 6 (Reuters) - At the London 2012 Olympics, Queen Elizabeth appeared to parachute into the stadium for the opening ceremony.
Historic Trams of Milan
At Friday's opening of the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, Italy offered a more prosaic arrival: a video showing President Sergio Mattarella travelling to Milan's San Siro stadium aboard one of the city's most distinctive symbols – a Carrelli tram.
Cultural Significance
The tram driver who opened the doors for Mattarella at the San Siro stop was played by Italian MotoGP great Valentino Rossi.
Mattarella, 84, was first identified in the video when the Italian head of state picked up a soft toy dropped by a child.
Today 125 of the historic Milan trams, whose rattling presence has been part of daily life since the late 1930s, remain in service, after restoration work by the local transport company ATM to return them to their initial yellow-and-cream livery and refurbish their wooden interiors.
Its distinctive silhouette is also familiar to residents of San Francisco, where several units were purchased in the 1980s.
(Reporting by Elvira Pollina; Editing by Alison Williams)
Key Takeaways
- •President Sergio Mattarella celebrates Milan's transport.
- •Video tribute features historic Carrelli tram ride.
- •Valentino Rossi plays tram driver in the video.
- •125 restored Milan trams remain in service.
- •Milan trams have cultural ties to San Francisco.
Frequently Asked Questions about Olympics-Italy's president takes the tram in video tribute to Milan transport
1What is a tram?
A tram is a type of vehicle that runs on tracks and is used for public transportation, typically in urban areas.
2What is the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics?
The Milano Cortina Winter Olympics is a major international multi-sport event that will take place in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.
3What is cultural significance?
Cultural significance refers to the importance of a cultural artifact or practice in representing the values, beliefs, and identity of a community.
4What is a video tribute?
A video tribute is a short film or presentation created to honor or commemorate a person, event, or achievement.
5What is restoration work?
Restoration work involves repairing and preserving historical structures or artifacts to maintain their original condition and significance.
