Italy government
FILE - In this Aug. 5, 2013 file photo, Valentina Vezzali of Italy smiles during the women's individual foil qualifying rounds at the Fencing World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. Six-time Olympic fencing champion Valentina Vezzali was named the Italian government’s cabinet undersecretary in charge of sports on Friday. The 47-year-old Vezzali will be in charge of relations with the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) and also oversee amateur sports across the country. (AP Photo/MTI, Imre Foldi)
Olympic champion Vezzali to oversee sports in Italy

Mar. 12, 2021 02:49 PM EST

A closed chairlift in Cortina D'Ampezzo , Italy, Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021. The granite peaks that majestically encircle the northern Italian winter resort of Cortina glimmer with one of the most prolific snowfalls in years, a cruel joke of nature as Italy’s ski areas have been laid silent by the COVID-19 pandemic. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Mountain heartbreak: Italy has deep snow, closed ski resorts

By Colleen Barry Feb. 03, 2021 03:47 AM EST

FILE - In this April 6, 2019 file photo, President of the Italian National Olympic Committee, CONI, Giovanni Malago' gestures as he talks during a winter Olympics Milan Cortina bid IOC Evaluation Commission final news conference, in Milan, Italy. The International Olympic Committee is slated in January 2021 to consider imposing a humiliating probation on Italy’s team for the Tokyo Games due to a two-year domestic dispute that it says amounts to government interference. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, file)
Government decree saves Italy from Olympic suspension

By Andrew Dampf Jan. 26, 2021 05:32 AM EST

FILE - In this Aug. 8, 2016 file photo, Italy's Federica Pellegrini checks her time after placing third in a semifinal of the women's 200-meter freestyle during the swimming competitions at the 2016 Summer Olympics, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The International Olympic Committee is slated in January 2021 to consider imposing a humiliating probation on Italy’s team for the Tokyo Games due to a two-year domestic dispute that it says amounts to government interference. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, file)
IOC to consider placing Italy on probation for interference

By Andrew Dampf Jan. 25, 2021 08:42 AM EST

IOC President Thomas Bach wearing a face mask speaks to the media at the National Stadium, the main venue for the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games postponed until July 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic, in Tokyo Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2020. Bach said during this week's trip to Tokyo that he is “encouraging” all Olympic “participants” and fans to be vaccinated - if one becomes available - if they are going to attend next year's Tokyo Olympics. (Behrouz Mehri/Pool Photo via AP)
Italy promises Olympic committee autonomy after IOC warning

By Andrew Dampf Nov. 17, 2020 03:21 PM EST

People walk by a departures monitor at the Rome Leonardo da Vinci international airport, Thursday, March 12, 2020. Italians woke up to yet further virus-containment restrictions after Premier Giuseppe Conte ordered restaurants, cafes and retail shops closed after imposing a nationwide lockdown on personal movement. For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
The Latest: Japan's Olympics minister reaffirms no delay

By The Associated Press Mar. 13, 2020 03:14 AM EDT