Ladin mountain community says it is being overlooked at the Winter Olympics

Ladin residents in the Dolomites say Milan Cortina organisers did not include their language and traditions in the opening ceremony, and local groups are mounting flags, videos and events to raise visibility during the Games.

The Ladin minority of the Dolomites reports being largely excluded from the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics despite Cortina hosting events. Mayors of 17 Ladin towns say a request for representation received no reply. Organisers told the Associated Press the opening ceremony will celebrate broadly exported elements of Italian culture such as fashion, design and music. In response, Ladin groups are preparing their own displays, educational materials and local cultural events during the Games. Known details: - A letter from the mayors of all 17 Ladin towns requesting representation was reportedly unanswered. - Milan Cortina organisers said the 6 February opening ceremony will highlight elements of Italian culture that have been widely exported rather than specific local minority traditions. - Official Olympic programming will include only limited Ladin appearances: two people in traditional dress at the torch arrival and a small pre-ceremony parade that officials said will not be broadcast globally. - Ladin groups plan independent actions during the Games, including distributing Ladin flags, producing mini-dictionaries, screening a subtitled history video at Cortina's Town Hall, and staging music and literature events in Trentino. Summary: The reported exclusion has prompted local efforts to increase Ladin cultural visibility during the Olympic period. The opening ceremony is scheduled for 6 February, and community-organised displays, a Town Hall video screening, and regional events are planned. The situation underscores local concerns about representation and ongoing demographic and property pressures described by Ladin leaders.