The curtain rises on the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics in a spectacle that blended culture, fashion, and sport. The highly anticipated opening ceremony took place at the San Siro stadium in Milan, where athletes from around the world gathered to kick off the Games.
In a display of Italian pride, tributes were paid to legendary figures such as da Vinci and Dante, Puccini and Pausini, Armani and Fellini, among others. The celebration also featured pasta and vino, quintessential aspects of Italian culture. Adding a touch of glamour was Mariah Carey's performance of the classic song "Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu" ("Volare"), which left the audience in awe.
However, amidst the festivities, an unusual phenomenon emerged. In a bizarre twist, no athletes from the first five countries – Italy, the United States, Canada, Germany, and Japan – showed up at the main hub, Milan's San Siro stadium. This was largely due to the innovative four-site, dual-cauldron setup of the Games, which featured separate venues for various disciplines in Cortina.
Fashion played a significant role in the ceremony, as both Paris and Milan vied for style supremacy. The French team, led by flag bearer Clement Noel, made a stunning appearance at the Livigno venue, while the Italian delegation showcased their signature flair at San Siro.
The ceremony's organizers aimed to convey themes of harmony and peace, highlighting the unique city-mountain dichotomy of the Games. International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry expressed hope that the event would be viewed as an opportunity for respect and unity in these tumultuous times.
A notable aspect of this year's Olympics was the use of two cauldrons – one in Milan and another 250 miles away in Cortina – in a tribute to Leonardo da Vinci's geometric studies. The lighting of both cauldrons, a closely guarded secret until now, was a momentous occasion that brought together athletes from around the world.
As the curtain falls on this spectacular opening ceremony, the stage is set for an unforgettable Winter Olympics experience, blending culture, fashion, and sport in the picturesque Italian landscapes.
In a display of Italian pride, tributes were paid to legendary figures such as da Vinci and Dante, Puccini and Pausini, Armani and Fellini, among others. The celebration also featured pasta and vino, quintessential aspects of Italian culture. Adding a touch of glamour was Mariah Carey's performance of the classic song "Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu" ("Volare"), which left the audience in awe.
However, amidst the festivities, an unusual phenomenon emerged. In a bizarre twist, no athletes from the first five countries – Italy, the United States, Canada, Germany, and Japan – showed up at the main hub, Milan's San Siro stadium. This was largely due to the innovative four-site, dual-cauldron setup of the Games, which featured separate venues for various disciplines in Cortina.
Fashion played a significant role in the ceremony, as both Paris and Milan vied for style supremacy. The French team, led by flag bearer Clement Noel, made a stunning appearance at the Livigno venue, while the Italian delegation showcased their signature flair at San Siro.
The ceremony's organizers aimed to convey themes of harmony and peace, highlighting the unique city-mountain dichotomy of the Games. International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry expressed hope that the event would be viewed as an opportunity for respect and unity in these tumultuous times.
A notable aspect of this year's Olympics was the use of two cauldrons – one in Milan and another 250 miles away in Cortina – in a tribute to Leonardo da Vinci's geometric studies. The lighting of both cauldrons, a closely guarded secret until now, was a momentous occasion that brought together athletes from around the world.
As the curtain falls on this spectacular opening ceremony, the stage is set for an unforgettable Winter Olympics experience, blending culture, fashion, and sport in the picturesque Italian landscapes.
. Like, I get that da Vinci and Dante were big deals or whatever, but can't we just have a simple opening ceremony like before? And what's up with this four-site thingy? It feels like they're trying to do too much at once 
. And no athletes from the top countries showing up? That's weird 
. I guess it's cool that fashion played a big role, though 
. But seriously, can we just have some peace and unity instead of all this fuss? 
?! i mean i get it they wanted to do something diff but 5 countries just not showing up is pretty weird 
. and mariah carey was lit tho 
! but seriously can we talk about how awkward it must be for those athletes who were left standing at the empty venue? 
– and mashed it all together into one unforgettable spectacle! And Mariah Carey killing it on stage with "Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu" is just... wow 
. But for real though, what's up with no athletes showing up from the first five countries? It's like they snuck out of the party or something 
.
). I'm loving the vibe, but also kinda weird that it's all so over-the-top. It feels like they're trying to say something deeper than just "Italy is awesome"... or maybe I'm just reading too much into it 
. And I hope Kirsty Coventry's right about this being a time for unity... we need more of that in our lives 
Can you believe it? Athletes from Italy's neighboring countries just bailed on us? I mean, what's up with that?! 
And don't even get me started on Mariah Carey's performance - I mean, who thinks it's a good idea to sing "Volare" at an Olympic opening ceremony?! 
.
. The whole cultural and fashion vibe is so fire 
!
it was like a dream come true seeing all these amazing athletes and celebrities walk into that stadium 
especially mariah carey's performance was on point 
but i have to give a shoutout to the italian delegation, those outfits were straight fire 
! I mean, who wouldn't love a good dose of pasta and vino to kick off the Games? 
But seriously, it was awesome seeing all these iconic figures from Italian history get some love. And can we talk about Mariah Carey's performance for like 10 seconds straight 
?
Anyway, can't wait for the rest of the Games to unfold! 
I mean, don't get me wrong, it's great that Italy is giving its all to the Olympics, but can't they just keep things simple like everyone else? 
Anyway, now that it's over, can we please just get back to the actual sports already? 
I'm still trying to wrap my head around this whole four-site setup. I mean, I love the idea of having separate venues for different disciplines, but can you imagine waiting hours just to get to your event? 
And don't even get me started on the cauldron thingy. I mean, I know Leonardo was all about geometry, but seriously, how hard is it to just light one cauldron? 
That's gotta be some kind of record. It's like they're trying to make it more about the athletes from other places instead of Italy and its visitors. 
I mean, don't get me wrong, the ceremony was super cool with that Mariah Carey performance! 
But I wish they'd just stick to one main venue for once. 
I mean, what's up with no top athletes showing up to the main event? It's like they didn't get the memo 
. I know they're spread out across multiple sites, but still, you'd think they'd want to be at the big show 
. And Mariah Carey killing it on stage was lit 
.
The way they showcased Italy's culture was fire