"The goal of the 2026 Ambassador Challenge is to demonstrate that you don't have to be an athlete to believe in the values of the Olympic and Paralympic Movement and to sensitise the digital community to those universal values that inspire the Games," a Milan Cortina 2026 release said.

"What makes the difference will not be physical or athletic skills, but the ability to communicate and spread values such as excellence, respect and friendship."

The eight still in contention for the title are biathlete Alice Canclini, travel-blogging couple "Trip & Roll", singer Roberta Branchini, gamer Stefano Lepri, comedian Dario Bandiera, YouTubers Fred and David Alessandrini, chef Gilberto Neirotti and actress Giulia Elettra Gorietti.

Presented virtually with the first-round test by Italy’s Pyeongchang 2018 short track speed skating 500 metres champion Arianna Fontana, they successfully designed five blindfolded circles and spoke of the values that the Olympic symbol represents for them.

The Ambassador Challenge was established as part of the Games organisers' policy of making digital communication a strength of the build-up to the next Winter Games but one.

The competition was open to online "influencers" with at least 50,000 followers, and the winner will be tasked with bringing Italy and the rest of the world "closer" to the Olympics and Paralympics by targeting their digital audience.

Whoever is successful will also appear on the Olympic Night television programme which is due to be broadcast by RAI in the spring.