Boy stranded over Olympic prices invited to opening show
The Games organising committee has offered Riccardo a role in Friday's opening ceremony at Milan's San Siro stadium to try to make it up to him.
(File photo)
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ROME - An 11-year-old left stranded in the snow after failing to pay a bus ticket inflated for Italy's Winter Olympics will take part in Friday's opening ceremony, a spokesperson said.
Riccardo had boarded the bus home from school last week in the Cortina d'Ampezzo region with a 2.50 euro ($2.95) ticket, the usual fare.
But the operating company had raised the fare to 10 euros ahead of the February 6-22 Milan-Cortina Games, and he had to get off.
The story made headlines in Italy and beyond, and the bus driver apologised, saying he made a "serious mistake".
The Games organising committee has offered Riccardo a role in Friday's opening ceremony at Milan's San Siro stadium to try to make it up to him.
"He will play a symbolic role during the opening ceremony," a spokesperson confirmed to AFP, while noting that the role still needed to be defined.
Local authorities also said they would start offering discounts on bus prices for poorer local residents.