Italian police at Winter Olympics arrest man, 44, who had been on the run for 16 years

The Winter Olympics are well underway in Milan and Cortina, with thousands of fans from around the world flocking to Italy to cheer on their national team and bring home some patriotic glory.

The Olympics have even drawn people back to Italy that should have stayed away, including one 44-year-old Slovakian man who had been on the run from the law for the past 16 years.

Italy's police, the Carabinieri, said they had arrested the wanted man on Wednesday, February 11, following a tip-off, according to the Associated Press. He had been on the run since 2010, following a string of crimes.

In a cruel twist of fate, just like thousands of others, he had come back to Italy so that he could cheer on his national team in the ice hockey event. But before he could even see Slovakia beat the Italians 3-2 on their home turf, he was apprehended and hauled off to prison.

The unnamed criminal had returned to see his national team play (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Authorities said that the man, who they have not named, had returned to see the match at Santagiulia Arena in Milan.

However, police were tipped off about his presence in the country after the campsite he was staying at issued 'an automatic alert' when he checked in.

After skipping out on a sentence of 11 months and a week for a spate of thefts he carried out when he was 28, the criminal was promptly sent to Milan's San Vittore prison to finally serve his sentence.

Alhough, with San Vittore being located in Milan's city center, there is every chance that he heard the roar of the crowd as he missed his country's dominating early performance at the 2026 Winter Games.

Sweden's Adrian Kempe was able to admit Slovakia's strengths, even after a fist fight on the ice (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

It has been an exciting few years for Slovakia's ice hockey fans, after winning their first bronze medal in the Olympic event in 2022.

Before beating Italy 3-2, the Slovakian team had pulled off an even stronger performance against Finland, smashing them in a 4-1 victory. However, their streak was stopped on Saturday, after Sweden avenged their fellow Nords with a 5-3 loss.

Yet, despite this faltering performance, Slovakia's early domination saw them win Group B thanks to their large goal difference against Finland.

Swedish star player Adrian Kempe, who also plays for the LA Kings, admitted after winning the game but losing the group: "They're a good team. They're physical, they play hard, they play fast.

"So obviously every game is going to be really tough, but I think overall, we did a way better job today."