Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics Opens with Ceremony Across Multiple Italian Locations
The Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics officially began with an opening ceremony held across four locations in Italy, including Milan's San Siro Stadium.
Olympic flames were lit in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, with performances by Andrea Bocelli and Mariah Carey featuring prominently in the event that celebrated Italian culture and global unity.
Athletes from more than 90 countries participated in the parade, with Italy receiving the loudest applause, followed by support for Ukraine and the United States.
IOC President Kirsty Coventry declared the Games open, becoming the first woman to do so for the Winter Olympics, and emphasized themes of unity and resilience through sport.
Competitions in curling, figure skating and ice hockey were already underway, with the first gold medals set to be awarded over the weekend. Security measures were stringent throughout the events.
Italy has previously hosted major Winter Olympic events, and organizers for Milan-Cortina aimed to highlight multiple alpine regions to promote tourism and regional development.
The Winter Olympics continue as one of the world's largest sporting events, attracting global audiences and fostering cooperation amid geopolitical tensions among participating nations.
Organizers expressed hopes that the Games would inspire viewers worldwide and demonstrate sport's role in uniting nations beyond political differences.
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