Winter Olympics Kick Off At Milano-Cortina 2026 Opening Ceremony

The Milan–Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics officially began with an energetic opening ceremony staged across four Italian locations, led by Milan's iconic San Siro Stadium.

Olympic flames were lit in both Milan and Cortina, while performances by Andrea Bocelli and Maria Carey highlighted the ceremony celebrating Italian culture and global unity.

Athletes from more than 90 countries paraded during the opening, with Italy receiving the loudest applause, alongside warm support for Ukraine and the United States.

Security remained tight as competitions in curling, figure skating, and ice hockey had already started, with the first gold medals scheduled to be awarded this weekend.

IOC President Kirsty Coventry officially opened the Games, marking the first time a woman declared the Winter Olympics open, emphasizing unity and resilience through sport.

Italy previously hosted major Winter Olympic events, and organizers aimed to showcase multiple alpine regions to boost tourism and regional development through shared hosting.

The Winter Olympics remain one of the world's largest sporting events, drawing global audiences and promoting cooperation despite ongoing geopolitical tensions among participating nations.

As competitions begin, organizers hope the Milan–Cortina Games will inspire global audiences and highlight sport's ability to unite nations beyond political differences.

MENAFN08022026000228011069ID1110710511