Milan Cortina Opening Ceremony Highlights Global Political Tensions/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Milan Cortina Winter Olympics opened with a dazzling, multi-site ceremony celebrating Italian culture. Crowd reactions revealed underlying global political tensions involving U.S. and Israeli delegations. Olympic leaders urged unity as twin cauldrons were lit in Milan and Cortina.
Milan Cortina Opening Ceremony: Quick Looks
- Four-site, dual-cauldron Olympic opening ceremony
- Cheers for Ukraine, mixed reactions for Israel
- Jeers for U.S. Vice President JD Vance in Milan
- Unity message delivered by IOC President Kirsty Coventry
- Mariah Carey headlined musical performances
- Protests in Milan over ICE-related concerns
Deep Look
MILAN / CORTINA D’AMPEZZO — Italy officially opened the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics with a visually striking, multi-location ceremony that celebrated the nation’s culture, creativity and alpine heritage — even as political tensions surfaced in crowd reactions.
The three-and-a-half-hour ceremony unfolded simultaneously in Milan’s San Siro Stadium and the mountain co-host city of Cortina d’Ampezzo, along with athlete parades in Livigno and Predazzo. Italian President Sergio Mattarella formally declared the Games open from Milan, marking the start of the most geographically dispersed Winter Olympics in history.
Among the dignitaries in attendance were JD Vance and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. While American athletes were warmly received during the Parade of Nations, the atmosphere shifted when video boards briefly showed Vance waving an American flag. Jeers echoed through San Siro, underscoring strained relations between the United States and some European allies amid the Trump administration’s assertive foreign policy.
Political undertones also emerged during the introduction of the Israeli delegation, which drew some boos in Milan, though cheers were reported at the Cortina ceremony. Ukraine’s small delegation, by contrast, was greeted with loud applause as the war with Russia continues into its fourth year.
Addressing the moment, Kirsty Coventry, the first woman to lead the International Olympic Committee, called for unity.
“Let these Games be a celebration of what unites us — of everything that makes us human,” Coventry said, urging athletes and spectators alike to embrace the Olympic spirit amid global divisions.
Twin Cauldrons, One Message
In a first for the Olympics, two cauldrons were lit simultaneously and will burn throughout the Games — one at Milan’s Arco della Pace, and the other in Cortina’s Piazza Dibona. Italian alpine skiing legends Alberto Tomba and Deborah Compagnoni lit the Milan flame, while Sofia Goggia, a gold medalist and current medal hopeful, ignited the Cortina cauldron.
Culture, Music and Celebration
American pop icon Mariah Carey helped set the celebratory tone with a performance of the Italian classic “Nel Blu Dipinto di Blu,” known worldwide as “Volare,” drawing cheers from the stadium. The ceremony also honored Italy’s artistic legacy, including a tribute to late fashion designer Giorgio Armani, and featured appearances by Italian performers and references to the country’s city-and-mountain identity.
Protests and Logistical Challenges
Outside the celebrations, demonstrations took place in Milan opposing the presence of analysts linked to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Italian officials stressed that ICE personnel were not operating on Italian streets and that only Homeland Security Investigations staff were present within U.S. diplomatic missions. The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee also confirmed no ICE agents were involved in Team USA security.
In Cortina, some residents reported confusion over street closures, while athletes welcomed the chance to take part locally without traveling to Milan.
“Am I happy I don’t have to spend 10 hours on a bus? Yes,” said U.S. skeleton athlete Austin Florian.
As Italy welcomed the world, the opening ceremony delivered both spectacle and symbolism — a reminder that even amid celebration, the Olympics reflect the broader political currents shaping the global stage.
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