image sourced from original article at Police in Italy intervened on Saturday to prevent pro-Palestinian activists from disrupting the start of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics torch relay in Rome. Authorities removed groups of protesters before they could reach the relay route, though a small group managed to wave Palestinian flags near a university as the torch passed. The relay began at the Stadio dei Marmi and will travel through all 110 Italian provinces before the opening ceremony in Milan next February.
Recent months have seen a rise in pro-Palestinian demonstrations at sporting events across Europe, including incidents at soccer matches and cycling races involving Israeli teams. Organizers and police have taken increased measures to ensure the safety and continuity of these events amid ongoing protests against Israel's military actions in Gaza.
