The Milan Cortina Olympics have officially begun with a unique opening ceremony that spanned multiple locations, celebrating Italian culture and heritage.
The ceremony paid tribute to Italian icons like Leonardo da Vinci, Dante, Puccini, Armani, and Fellini, along with beloved Italian traditions like pasta and wine. Singer Mariah Carey also performed the song “Volare” in Italian.
To accommodate the Games’ widespread locations, the opening ceremony was held in four different places. Athletes could participate in the Parade of Nations at mountain venues. However, this meant that athletes from the first five countries did not attend the main event in Milan’s San Siro stadium.
The closing ceremony will be held in Verona, adding another location to the Games’ map.
The Olympic competition venues cover a large area, about the size of New Jersey. Holding the opening ceremony in multiple cities allowed sports like skiing, bobsled, curling, and snowboarding to be represented without requiring attendees to travel to Milan.
Organizers aimed to promote harmony and peace, highlighting the contrast between the city and mountain settings while seeking unity amidst global challenges.
The United States delegation was among the last to participate in the parade, recognizing Los Angeles as the host of the 2028 Games.
Instead of a single Olympic cauldron, two were lit, honoring Leonardo da Vinci’s geometric studies. One cauldron is in Milan, and the other is in Cortina.
The opening ceremony included dancers from the Teatro alla Scala, oversized heads of opera composers, and representations of Italian culture, art, and literature. There were also nods to ancient Rome, the Renaissance, and Italian traditions.
The ceremony also showcased outfits in the colors of the Italian flag, created by the late Giorgio Armani, and a performance of the Italian national anthem by Laura Pausini.
Italian actress Sabrina Impacciatore presented a segment on the history of the Olympics, and comedian Brenda Lodigiani demonstrated Italian hand gestures.
