FIP President Luigi Carraro carries the Olympic Torch for Milano Cortina 2026: “A unique emotion, in those steps was the entire world of Padel”

The journey of the Olympic Flame undoubtedly represents the most meaningful and intense moment in the lead-up to the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games. Among the torchbearers taking part in the Olympic torch relay was also Luigi Carraro, President of the International Padel Federation (FIP), at the heart of a moment rich in symbolic value, connecting the Olympic journey with the present and future of Padel on a global scale.

For the FIP President, carrying the Olympic Torch was not only a personal honour, but also a gesture filled with sporting and cultural significance. At the core of an event that embodies the highest values of world sport, President Carraro’s presence symbolically carried with it the energy of a discipline in constant growth, played and followed by millions of people across every continent.

“Carrying the Olympic Torch was a deeply moving experience, difficult to put into words. In those steps, I felt I was representing something that went far beyond myself: more than 35 million players, Padel fans all over the world, National Federations, male and female athletes, coaches, referees, and everyone who lives this sport every day with passion and shares its dream. The Olympic Games are the highest expression of world sport, and in that moment I felt that Padel was there too, with its energy, its global community and its aspiration to one day be part of the Olympic Games”, Carraro said.

President Carraro’s participation in the Olympic Flame journey forms part of a broader path that goes beyond the celebration of a single event, becoming an opportunity to reaffirm the deep connection between the Padel movement and Olympic values: inclusion, passion, growth and an international vision. A moment that highlights how Padel continues to look to the future with ambition and respect, supported by an ever-growing and increasingly engaged global community.

As Milano Cortina 2026 approaches, the Olympic Flame continues its journey. And for a brief stretch, it also illuminated the dream of a sport that has grown at a record pace and is now firmly rooted in the global sporting landscape.