A Slovakian man, who had been on the run from Italian authorities for 16 years, was apprehended upon his return to Italy to support his nation at the Winter Olympics. Despite his intentions to cheer on the ice hockey team, the 44-year-old, whose identity remains undisclosed, was intercepted by police before reaching the arena, as there had been an outstanding arrest warrant issued against him since 2010.
The arrest stemmed from a string of thefts he allegedly committed, for which the Carabinieri police reported he has nearly a year left to serve. Authorities were able to locate him after he checked into a guesthouse in the outskirts of Milan, choosing to return to Italy despite being a wanted fugitive.
The Winter Games’ ice hockey competitions are taking place at the Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena and the Rho Ice Hockey Arena in different parts of the city. The man’s plan to attend the former event on Wednesday evening was thwarted when he was taken into custody before reaching the venue, subsequently being escorted to the central San Vittore Prison.
Meanwhile, Slovakia’s men’s ice hockey team achieved a surprising victory by defeating Finland 4-1 in their Olympic debut, setting the stage for upcoming matches against Italy and Sweden. The team, which previously won a bronze medal in Beijing four years ago when NHL players were excluded, is making their first appearance since the Sochi 2014 Games.
Amid the ongoing Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, notable events include Team USA star Lindsey Vonn’s unfortunate crash resulting in a leg injury, and Jutta Leerdam, Jake Paul’s fiancée, securing a gold medal in speed skating. Team GB continues to strive for a medal, with high hopes resting on skeleton world champion Matt Weston’s performance in the upcoming final.
Viewers can catch over 850 hours of live action on discovery+ via Prime Video during the Milano Cortina 2026 Games, with the £3.99 entertainment subscription offering access to TNT Sports 2 for continuous Olympic coverage. To stay updated with top sports news and more, follow Daily Mirror as a ‘Preferred Source’ on Google News.