The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics officially opened on February 7 with an unprecedented four-site ceremony featuring tributes to Italian culture. Amid global tensions, organizers emphasized themes of harmony and peace, with athletes parading at mountain venues alongside the main event in Milan.
The opening ceremony for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics unfolded across four sites on February 7, marking the most spread-out Games in history. Centered at Milan's San Siro stadium, with simultaneous events in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Livigno, and Predazzo in Trento province, the event paid homage to Italian icons like Leonardo da Vinci, Dante, Puccini, Armani, and Fellini, alongside pasta and wine. Mariah Carey drew cheers singing 'Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu,' known as 'Volare,' in Italian.
The Parade of Nations saw an unusual twist: No athletes from the first five countries—Greece, Albania, Andorra, Saudi Arabia, and Argentina—appeared at San Siro, as they joined festivities at mountain venues. Armenia entered first there, eliciting raucous applause from 61,000 spectators. Israel's four athletes faced boos amid calls for a ban over the Gaza war, which started with Hamas's October 2023 attack. The U.S. delegation was cheered, but Vice President JD Vance drew jeers on the video boards, reflecting strained alliances under the Trump administration's foreign policy, including tariffs and actions in Venezuela and threats toward Greenland. Venezuela and Ukraine received strong support.
Organizers aimed for themes of harmony and peace amid global tensions. IOC President Kirsty Coventry, the first woman in the role, said, 'I hope the opening ceremony is seen by everyone as an opportunity to be respectful.' South African actress Charlize Theron and Italian rapper Ghali delivered peace messages. Italian President Sergio Mattarella declared the Games open after Coventry's speech: 'Thank you for believing in the magic of the Olympic Games.' Andrea Bocelli then performed Puccini's 'Nessun Dorma,' ending with 'Vincerò' ('I will win!'). Torchbearers lit dual cauldrons—one at Milan's Arch of Peace and another 250 miles away in Cortina—as tributes to da Vinci's geometry. Lit by Italian Olympic ski champions Alberto Tomba, Deborah Compagnoni in Milan, and Sofia Goggia in Cortina, they symbolize the Games' expanse over 8,500 square miles.
Japan, with one of the largest delegations, had speedskater Wataru Morishige carry the flag in Milan and snowboarder Sena Tomita in Livigno. Milan's mild 50°F (10°C) weather and clear skies contrasted with the mountain sports, highlighting the urban-mountain divide.
