A Historic Opening Ceremony for the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics

The opening ceremony of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, held on Friday, unfolded seamlessly amid great anticipation. Making history, this ceremony took place across four different locations: Milan, Cortina, Predazzo in Trentino, and Livigno in Lombardy, marking a first for Olympic traditions. Much of the event centered around Milan's San Siro stadium, but significant moments – including the Olympic oath, the lighting of the cauldron, and the parade of athletes – also took place in Cortina. In Predazzo and Livigno, only select athletes paraded who were unable to attend the main event. Here are some highlights from the ceremony: 1. **Love and Psyche**: The ceremony, themed around harmony, started with a beautiful homage through dance, featuring two performers who recreated Antonio Canova's famous sculpture, 'Love and Psyche.' 2. **Mariah Carey’s Italian Rendition**: Iconic American singer Mariah Carey graced the stage with a performance of ‘Nel blu dipinto di blu’ by Domenico Modugno. To aid her Italian pronunciation, she utilized a large electronic prompter displaying an anglicized transliteration of the lyrics, facilitating her articulation of lines like 'E incominciavo a volare nel cielo infinito.' 3. **Playback Performance by Laura Pausini**: Renowned Italian artist Laura Pausini sang the Italian anthem, although she performed it via playback, a modern touch amidst the traditional celebrations. 4. **The Unveiling of the Five Rings**: A significant Olympic protocol moment was the unveiling of the five Olympic rings, an eagerly awaited segment that showcased a spectacular choreography and light show at San Siro. 5. **Italy’s Grand Entrance**: In line with Olympic traditions, Italy closed the parade of athletes as the host nation. The flag was carried by skater Arianna Fontana and cross-country skier Federico Pellegrino in Milan. Meanwhile, in Cortina, skier Federica Brignone and curler Amos Mosaner bore the flag, with additional athletes parading in Predazzo and Livigno. 6. **Official Announcement by President Mattarella**: President Sergio Mattarella formally opened the Olympic Games with a ceremonial declaration. However, a slip occurred as he mistakenly referred to this as the fifteenth edition of the Winter Olympics, when in fact it is the twenty-fifth. 7. **Ghali and the Poetry of Gianni Rodari**: Controversial performance artist Ghali recited a poignant poem titled 'Promemoria' by Gianni Rodari, addressing themes of war and peace. His segment, performed in Italian, French, and English, captivated the audience as white-clad dancers formed a dove symbolizing peace onstage. Despite its artistic intent, the performance drew mixed reactions from political figures in Italy, particularly from the right, due to prior contentious remarks by Ghali. 8. **The Lighting of the Cauldron**: The ceremony reached its climax with the lighting of the Olympic cauldron, which was a unique spectacle this year with two cauldrons due to the dual hosting cities. In Milan, the cauldron at Arco della Pace was ignited by former Olympians Alberto Tomba and Deborah Compagnoni, while in Cortina, skier Sofia Goggia performed the honors at Piazza Dibona. As the event concluded, the inaugural ceremony not only set a visual and festive tone for the games to follow but also showcased a multidimensional celebration emphasizing culture, art, and unity across regions. The Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics promises to be a remarkable chapter in Olympic history. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2