A Slovakian man who had been on the run from Italian authorities for 16 years was apprehended upon his return to the country to support his nation at the Winter Olympics. The 44-year-old, whose identity remains undisclosed, was intercepted by police before he could even reach the ice hockey arena where he intended to cheer on his team. The arrest stemmed from outstanding warrants dating back to 2010 related to multiple theft incidents attributed to him. Carabinieri police confirmed that he now faces 11 months and seven days of imprisonment.
Authorities located the fugitive after he checked into a guesthouse on the outskirts of Milan, opting to re-enter the country despite being a wanted individual. The man was taken into custody and transferred to San Vittore Prison, while Slovakia’s men’s ice hockey team achieved a surprising victory against Finland in their Olympic debut.
In previous Winter Games, Slovakia secured a bronze medal in Beijing under circumstances where NHL players were absent. This year, they marked their return to the Olympic stage after a hiatus since Sochi 2014. Meanwhile, the ongoing Milano Cortina 2026 Games have seen notable incidents, including the unfortunate injury of American skier Lindsey Vonn and the triumph of Jutta Leerdam, who upgraded her silver medal to gold in speed skating.
Although Team GB has faced near misses in securing medals, there are high hopes for skeleton world champion Matt Weston, poised for success in the upcoming final event. The Winter Olympics, running from February 6 to 22, offer over 850 hours of live action on discovery+ via Prime Video, with the £3.99 entertainment subscription granting access to continuous Olympic coverage on TNT Sports 2.