Milan Cortina Olympics Open With Four-Site Ceremony/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Milan Cortina Winter Olympics will open with an unprecedented four-site ceremony across northern Italy. The event will feature two Olympic cauldrons lit hundreds of miles apart. Organizers say the ceremony reflects Italy’s culture, geography and a message of unity.
Milan Cortina Opening Ceremony: Quick Looks
- First Olympics opening ceremony spread across four locations
- Two Olympic cauldrons lit simultaneously
- Main ceremony hosted at Milan’s San Siro Stadium
- Mountain venues included to reflect alpine sports
- Ceremony honors Italian culture, art and fashion
- Closing ceremony set for Verona
Deep Look: Milan Cortina Olympics Open With Four-Site Ceremony
MILAN — The Milan Cortina Winter Olympics will officially begin Friday with an unprecedented opening ceremony spanning four locations and featuring two Olympic cauldrons, underscoring the uniquely expansive geography of these Games and Italy’s cultural legacy.
It will be the most geographically dispersed Olympics ever staged — Summer or Winter — with competition venues scattered across roughly 8,500 square miles in northern Italy. Organizers say the multi-site approach reflects both logistical realities and a desire to bring the ceremony closer to the mountain communities hosting many of the events.
The central hub of the opening ceremony will be San Siro Stadium, a century-old venue and home to Italian soccer giants AC Milan and Inter Milan. San Siro is expected to be demolished in coming years, adding symbolic weight to its role in welcoming the world to the Games.
In addition to Milan, athletes will also take part in the Parade of Nations from three alpine locations: Cortina d’Ampezzo, Livigno, and Predazzo. The format allows athletes competing in mountain events — including alpine skiing, bobsled, curling and snowboarding — to participate without traveling hours back and forth to Milan.
The geographic theme continues with the Olympic flame. Instead of a single cauldron, the Games will feature two, both inspired by the geometric studies of Leonardo da Vinci. One cauldron will be located in Milan, about 2½ miles from San Siro, while the second will be lit in Cortina d’Ampezzo — roughly 250 miles away.
As with past Olympics, the identities of those who will light the cauldrons remain secret. Italy’s most recent Winter Games, held in Turin in 2006, featured cross-country skiing champion Stefania Belmondo as the final torchbearer.
Friday’s ceremony will also pay tribute to Italy’s artistic heritage. Scheduled performances include renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli, dancers from the academy of Milan’s famed opera house Teatro alla Scala, and a tribute to legendary fashion designer Giorgio Armani, who died last year at 91. Armani designed Olympic and Paralympic uniforms for Italy for decades.
While many details of the ceremony remain under wraps, organizers say the overarching themes will be harmony and peace, highlighting the contrast between urban Milan and the alpine landscapes while promoting unity during a time of global tension.
The Games’ closing ceremony will add yet another location, taking place Feb. 22 in Verona, the setting of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.
Attention will also be on how the international audience responds to the U.S. delegation, including Vice President JD Vance, who is attending the opening ceremony. Asked about the reception for American athletes, International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry expressed hope the moment would be marked by respect.
“I hope the opening ceremony is seen by everyone as an opportunity to be respectful,” Coventry said.
As the Olympic flame is lit across two cities and four stages, Italy will officially welcome the world to a Winter Games unlike any before it.
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