Milan Cortina Olympics Open With Multi-Site Spectacular Ceremony/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Milan Cortina Winter Olympics officially opened with a four-site ceremony across Italy. The unprecedented format reflected the most geographically dispersed Games in history. Italian culture, global unity and Olympic tradition anchored the celebrations.
Milan Cortina Olympics Opening Ceremony: Quick Looks
- Four locations hosted the opening ceremony simultaneously
- Dual Olympic cauldrons lit in Milan and Cortina
- Italian culture, music and history dominated performances
- Parade of Nations split between city and mountain venues
- Mixed crowd reactions reflected global political tensions
- Host nation Italy closed the ceremony to massive applause
Deep Look: Milan Cortina Olympics Open With Multi-Site Spectacular Ceremony
MILAN — The Milan Cortina Winter Olympics officially opened Friday night with a sprawling, multi-site ceremony designed to match the most geographically dispersed Games in Olympic history.
The unprecedented opening celebration unfolded simultaneously at four locations — Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Livigno and Predazzo — showcasing Italy’s blend of urban sophistication and alpine tradition. Two Olympic cauldrons were lit, one in Milan and the other 250 miles away in Cortina, symbolizing the vast footprint of the Games and honoring Leonardo da Vinci’s geometric legacy.
The main hub at San Siro Stadium in Milan featured tributes to Italian culture and creativity, weaving together references to Dante and da Vinci, Puccini and Fellini, Armani and Italian cuisine. Global pop star Mariah Carey drew loud cheers with a soaring Italian-language rendition of “Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu,” better known worldwide as “Volare.”
A Parade Across Mountains and Metropolises
To avoid forcing athletes to travel hours from mountain venues to Milan, organizers split the Parade of Nations among the four locations. While Greece traditionally leads the procession, none of the first five countries announced had athletes physically present at San Siro, an unusual visual consequence of the new format.
The first delegation with athletes on the Milan stadium floor was Armenia, whose arrival drew a thunderous ovation from the crowd of more than 61,000 spectators. Host nation Italy entered last, as tradition dictates, to a rapturous response set to an electronic arrangement of “The Barber of Seville.”
Some delegations received noticeably mixed reactions. Israel’s athletes were met with scattered boos amid global tensions surrounding the war in Gaza, while Ukraine’s entrance prompted strong applause as its war with Russia continues into a fourth year. Venezuela’s delegation also received vocal support.
American athletes were largely welcomed, though JD Vance, shown briefly on stadium screens, was jeered — a reflection of strained international views toward the Trump administration’s aggressive foreign policy posture.
Messages of Unity Amid Global Strain
Organizers emphasized themes of harmony and peace throughout the ceremony. South African actor Charlize Theron and Italian rapper Ghali delivered spoken messages calling for unity near the ceremony’s conclusion.
New International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry, the first woman to lead the organization, addressed the crowd before formally opening the Games alongside Italian President Sergio Mattarella.
“I hope this ceremony is seen as an opportunity for respect,” Coventry said earlier in the week, acknowledging concerns over potential political reactions during the parade.
Dual Cauldrons and Olympic Legends
Rather than a single Olympic flame, the Games feature two cauldrons — one in Milan near the Arch of Peace and another in Cortina d’Ampezzo. The flames were lit by Italian alpine skiing legends Alberto Tomba and Deborah Compagnoni in Milan, and by active Olympian Sofia Goggia in Cortina.
Tenor Andrea Bocelli delivered a dramatic performance of Puccini’s “Nessun Dorma,” culminating in the triumphant refrain “Vincerò” — “I will win.”
Italy on Full Display
The ceremony leaned heavily into Italian heritage. Dancers from the prestigious Teatro alla Scala academy reimagined classical sculpture, while oversized characters representing composers Puccini, Rossini and Verdi appeared on the field. A fashion segment honored the late designer Giorgio Armani, who created Italy’s Olympic uniforms for decades.
Singer Laura Pausini performed the national anthem, while actress Sabrina Impacciatore guided viewers through a century of Olympic history. Comedian Brenda Lodigiani added levity by demonstrating expressive Italian hand gestures.
Though the temperature in Milan hovered near 50 degrees Fahrenheit under clear skies — hardly wintry — the ceremony successfully bridged city and mountain, tradition and innovation.
As the Olympic flame now burns in two places, the Milan Cortina Games begin their two-week run across an area roughly the size of New Jersey, ushering in a new model for hosting the world’s largest winter sporting event.
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