Milan‑Cortina opening ceremony dazzled
The 2026 Winter Olympics kicked off in Milan‑Cortina with nearly 3,000 athletes from 93 countries parading at the opening ceremony and Day 1 competition highlights already rolling out in live coverage NBC Olympics. — If you’re tracking travel windows or want to time a cultural trip, the pageantry and early events are concentrated now as the Games begin.
Organizers staged the ceremony across four locations — Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Livigno and Predazzo — and closed the night with twin Olympic cauldrons to mark the Games’ start. turnto10.com In Milan the Arco della Pace cauldron was lit by Alberto Tomba and Deborah Compagnoni, while the Cortina flame burned after being ignited by Sofia Goggia in Piazza Dibona. cnn.com Mariah Carey performed an Italian-language rendition of “Volare” (and her song “Nothing Is Impossible”) during the San Siro segment, and tenor Andrea Bocelli delivered a stirring “Nessun Dorma.” variety.com Hundreds of demonstrators rallied in Milan against the presence of U.S. ICE agents and street closures, prompting central school closures ahead of the ceremony. usnews.com Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni publicly condemned anti‑Olympics protesters as “enemies of Italy and Italians” after clashes near San Siro. aljazeera.com
