A man from Slovakia, who had been evading the authorities in Italy 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 the police even before reaching the ice hockey arena where he intended to cheer on his team. The arrest was made on the basis of a warrant issued in 2010 related to a series of thefts he had allegedly committed, with a remaining sentence of 11 months and seven days.
The fugitive was located after he checked into a guesthouse on the outskirts of Milan, despite being on the wanted list. He was swiftly taken into custody and escorted to the central San Vittore Prison. Meanwhile, Slovakia’s men’s ice hockey team surprised many by defeating Finland 4-1 in their Olympic opener, setting the stage for upcoming matches against Italy and Sweden.
Slovakia, who won bronze in Beijing four years ago when NHL players were not part of the competition, has made a return to the Winter Olympics for the first time since Sochi 2014. The ongoing Milano Cortina 2026 Games have seen various noteworthy events, including the dramatic crash of American skier Lindsey Vonn, and the emotional victory of Jutta Leerdam, who upgraded her silver medal to gold in speed skating.
As the competition progresses, there are high hopes for Team GB athletes, including skeleton world champion Matt Weston, who is in contention for a gold medal in the upcoming finals. The Winter Olympics, taking place from February 6 to 22, offer fans over 850 hours of live action on discovery+ via Prime Video, with the £3.99 entertainment subscription providing access to TNT Sports 2 for continuous Olympic coverage.