Italy last hosted the Olympics in 2006. These women were there, and now are volunteers in Milan
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MILAN — A small army keeps every Olympics running around the clock. At the Milan Cortina Winter Games, some of them are seasoned veterans dating back 20 years.
About 18,000 volunteers are spread out across northern Italy, blanketing the venues in a sea of navy blue uniforms.
The Associated Press this week interviewed three Italian women who are volunteering in Milan. Two of them volunteered for the 2006 Turin Games — Italy’s second time hosting the Winter Olympics — and the third worked for its local organizing committee.
Anexampleforherdaughters
CristinaRomagnolitradedherItalianheritagetobeIrishforafewweeksin2006.AsavolunteerintheAlpswestofTurin,shewasassignedtoIreland’sathletes.
“Weweresupportingtheteamalmost24hoursaday,andtothanktheworkofthevolunteerstheyeveninvitedustoparadewiththemduringtheclosingceremony,”shesaid.
Romagnoli,then25,hasfewphotosfromthoseGames—atimebeforeiPhones—buttreasuresherpins,volunteerguidebookandlunchvouchersassouvenirs.
WhentheMilanCort
