Cortina Winter Olympics: Boy Symbolizes Games’ Opening Ceremony
- The February 6th opening ceremony of the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics unfolded across two Italian cities – Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo – marking the official start of...
- The ceremony wasn’t solely a celebration of athletic prowess; it was a showcase of Italian culture, featuring performances by a stellar lineup of artists including Mariah Carey, Laura...
- A particularly poignant moment involved an unexpected guest of honor in Cortina d’Ampezzo: an 11-year-old boy who had been turned away from a bus for lacking a valid...
The opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics unfolded across two Italian cities – Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo – marking the official start of the Games. While the spectacle aimed to rival the grandeur of the Paris Olympics opening, the ceremony distinguished itself by placing a greater focus on the athletes themselves, allowing for a more intimate presentation within the San Siro Stadium in Milan.
The ceremony wasn’t solely a celebration of athletic prowess; it was a showcase of Italian culture, featuring performances by a stellar lineup of artists including Mariah Carey, Laura Pausini, Andrea Bocelli, and Sabrina Impacciatore, known for her role in the HBO series “White Lotus.” Carey opened the program with her hit “Nothing is Impossible” and a rendition of “Volare,” Italy’s entry in the Eurovision competition.
A particularly poignant moment involved an unexpected guest of honor in Cortina d’Ampezzo: an boy who had been turned away from a bus for lacking a valid Olympic ticket. After walking six kilometers in the cold, he was given a place of honor behind the mountain choir singing the Italian national anthem, a gesture symbolizing the spirit of inclusivity and resilience.
The lighting of the Olympic cauldrons, a central tradition of the opening ceremony, took place simultaneously in Milan at the Arco della Pace and in Cortina d’Ampezzo’s Piazza Dibona. These cauldrons, designed as a tribute to Leonardo da Vinci, feature a sun-like structure inspired by his intricate knot patterns and are capable of expanding from to in diameter. The flame is encased within a glass and metal container.
The honor of lighting the cauldrons was bestowed upon three Olympic champion Alpine ski racers: Alberto Tomba and Deborah Compagnoni in Milan, and Sofia Goggia in Cortina. While Tomba and Compagnoni are retired, Goggia is actively competing in the Games, adding a unique dynamic to the ceremony.
The ceremony also included a playful tribute to Italian opera, featuring figures carrying giant bobbleheads of composers Giuseppe Verdi, Giacomo Puccini, and Gioachino Rossini. The visual, while intended as a celebration of Italy’s artistic heritage, drew comparisons to the Presidents’ Race at Washington Nationals baseball games.
More than athletes from national Olympic committees are participating in the Milano-Cortina Winter Games. The United States boasts the largest delegation with over athletes, followed by Canada with , and the host nation, Italy, with .
The solemnity of the occasion was underscored by the athletes’ oath, a tradition first performed by a woman – Italian skier Giuliana Minuzzo Chenal – at the Cortina Games. Seventy years later, the oath was taken by two athletes, two coaches, and two judges: curler Stefania Constantini and slittinost Dominik Fischnaller, coaches Elisabetta Biavaschi and Maurizio Marchetto, and arbiters Gabriele Toldo and Raffaella Locatelli. They pledged to compete with respect for the rules governing the Games.
The opening ceremony also served as a platform for recognizing Italy’s cultural and artistic legacy. The choice of locations – Milan’s San Siro Stadium and Cortina d’Ampezzo’s Piazza Dibona – and the tributes to figures like da Vinci and the opera composers, were deliberate attempts to showcase the nation’s rich heritage to a global audience. The ceremony’s narrative, as it unfolded, emphasized themes of unity and perseverance, symbolized by the circular design elements and the inclusion of individuals who overcame obstacles to participate in the Games.
Political figures including the vicegovernatore Lucas Pavanetto, the sottosegretario Luca De Carlo, and former parliamentarian Roger De Menech were in attendance, alongside the ex-minister Federico D’Incà. Prefect Antonello Roccoberton expressed pride in Cortina’s role in hosting the event, while Roberto Padrin, president of the Province, hailed the Games as a “miracle” achieved by a small community. Even spiritual reflections were present, with local priest Don Ivano Brambilla noting the potential for finding Christian values like loyalty, friendship, and peace within the Games.