- Ladin flags are flying in Cortina, Italy, during the Winter Olympics, representing an ancient Italian minority.
- Elsa Zardyny, the Ladin leader, seeks recognition from the Milan-Cortina Olympic Committee as being part of Italy.
- Ladin flags, symbolizing sky, snow and green, are being distributed widely in Cortina.
CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy — You might see some blue, white and green flags being flown all over Cortina. They don't represent any country, but rather an Italian minority.
It can be confusing because the flags have the same colors as Sierra Leone, just in reverse order. They are instead for the Ladin people, who settled this area some 2,000 years ago.
In a celebration where cultures are shared and flags of dozens of countries are flown, there are some sore feelings that at least one is left out.
"We do belong in the area and we would like to be recognized," said Elsa Zardyny, President of the Union of Ladis de Anpezo, otherwise known as the Ladin people. "We have a long history and tale to tell."
A rich history of traditional clothes still worn on certain occasions, and mountain flowers worn in women's hair. And a flag that represents their natural surroundings — "The sky, the snow and the green," Zardyny explained.
Zardyny said they asked the Milan Cortina Olympic Committee to recognize them as a part of Italy.
"And they just, you know, sort of, like, forgot all of it. And we have the feeling that they did it on purpose because, you know, it's a difficult history," she said.
It's difficult in part because their region changed hands after World War I.
"We have belonged to the Austrian Empire for more than 400 years," Zardyny said.
So instead, to gain the recognition they seek, they turned to the people of Cortina. And she said the people turned up in a big way.
"And we gave out for free to people who wanted them more than 500 flags to hang on whatever balconies, houses all around Cortina," Zardyny said.
That's why the flags can be seen virtually everywhere around the city.
But when it comes to the Games, the cultures and competition:
"We are really happy to have the sports side of it. Not so much about the money side of it," Zardyny said.
And that's a sentiment many locals seem to share.
There are still about 3,000 Ladin people here in Cortina. More information about the Ladin people can be found here.
