A Slovakian man who had been on the run from Italian authorities for 16 years was apprehended upon his return to the country to show support for his nation at the Winter Olympics. The 44-year-old individual, whose identity has not been disclosed, was intercepted by the police before reaching the arena. An arrest warrant had been issued against him in 2010 for a series of alleged shop thefts, and he now faces a sentence of 11 months and seven days.
Authorities located him after he checked into a guesthouse near Milan, despite his status as a wanted fugitive. The man’s intention was to attend an ice hockey match at the Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, but he was taken into custody before he could do so and transferred to San Vittore Prison.
Meanwhile, Slovakia’s men’s ice hockey team achieved a surprising victory over Finland, adding to the drama of the ongoing Winter Games. The team will next compete against Italy and Sweden. Slovakia had won a bronze medal in the previous Winter Olympics and is making a return to the competition after a hiatus.
In other Olympic events, Team USA’s Lindsey Vonn suffered a dramatic leg injury, while Jutta Leerdam, the partner of YouTuber Jake Paul, secured a gold medal in speed skating. Team GB is still awaiting its first medal, with high hopes resting on skeleton world champion Matt Weston.
The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics are taking place from February 6 to 22, with fans able to watch over 850 hours of live action on discovery+ via Prime Video. A subscription to discovery+ Entertainment for £3.99 provides access to TNT Sports 2 for 24/7 Olympic coverage throughout the games.