Spread across more than 265 miles in four different cities—from the snowy Dolomites to the sunny, for now, streets of Milan—the Milan-Cortina Olympics delivered one clear message: unity.
The most widespread Olympic Games in history showcased Italy’s idyllic snow-capped mountains, cutting-edge city life, and celebrated winter legacy during the opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina Games on Friday. This unique setup required four ceremonies in Milan, Livigno, Predazzo, and Cortina d’Ampezzo. Using movie magic on video screens, a golden ring, and the iconic Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, the events bridged the distance between host cities Milan and Cortina, uniting the Olympics behind the athletes competing across seven sports zones over the next 16 days.
“Let these Games be a celebration of what unites us, of everything that makes us human,” said International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry in her speech—her first at an Olympic Games under her leadership. “This is the magic of the Olympic Games: inspiring us all to be the best that we can be together.”
The theme for Milan-Cortina’s opening ceremony was *armonia*, or harmony—a fitting choice given the challenges faced by these Games. With a sprawling footprint covering seven different competition zones and officially hosted by two cities for the first time, the 2026 Olympics are arguably the most disconnected ever.
The geographical distance between venues is small compared to the geopolitical chasm the Games aim to bridge. The ongoing war in Ukraine has kept most Russian athletes out of the competition. Only 32 athletes with Russian or Belarusian passports were allowed to participate, but they must compete as individual neutral athletes. They will neither hear their national anthems nor wear their national flags.
Ukrainian athletes marched into Milan’s San Siro Stadium, where athletes competing in ice sports took part in the opening ceremony, receiving loud cheers. When talk of protest or political conflict arose during the week, Coventry sought to downplay it to maintain focus on the Games. She described controversies—such as those surrounding LA28 chairman Casey Wasserman and the presence of U.S. immigration agents in Milan—as “sad” distractions.
The United States found itself at the center of much contention after reports emerged about U.S. immigration enforcement activities in Milan, prompting anti-ICE protests. The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee clarified that while it works with the federal government to help secure the Games, this collaboration is with the Diplomatic Security Service under the State Department—not with ICE, which falls under Homeland Security.
Compounding tensions, former President Trump’s recent comments about the United States potentially taking control of Greenland from Denmark angered European allies. At the opening ceremony, an American fan walked the San Siro concourse wearing a sweatshirt with the phrase “Sorry for our president” displayed in multiple languages.
When U.S. Vice President JD Vance appeared on the video screen at San Siro, the cheers that previously greeted U.S. athletes turned into jeers. Vance attended multiple events during the week, including the U.S. women’s hockey group stage opener and the team figure skating competition.
The 323-athlete U.S. delegation—led by flag bearers speedskater Erin Jackson in Milan and bobsled athlete Frank Del Duca in Cortina—was both the largest in the nation’s Winter Olympics history and the largest of any country at the Milan-Cortina Games.
Athletes marched into Milan’s San Siro Stadium, home of AC Milan and Inter Milan, across a spiral-shaped stage. The stage’s four ramps converging into a circle symbolized the connection between Milan, Livigno, Predazzo, and Cortina.
Even athletes from countries whose participants weren’t competing in Milan—and thus unable to attend the opening ceremony—were represented. Volunteers dressed in silver, floor-length puffer dresses paraded across the stage holding signs, while screens showed athletes marching in from ceremonies at other Olympic locations throughout Italy.
In Cortina, a Brazilian athlete performed a backflip after passing through a golden ring—the shared symbol present at each ceremony.
While Olympians in Milan entered a packed stadium filled with flashing lights and thumping techno music spun by a DJ at a turntable designed to look like ice, the mountain ceremonies unfolded through the streets. Fans gathered on either side of walkways to cheer during the parade of athletes.
The ceremony highlighted the quintessential northern Italian experience. The countdown video featured a plate of risotto among its opening images, followed by breathtaking views of the snowy Dolomite peaks.
As a global fashion capital, Milan incorporated runway models dressed in green, white, and red outfits—designed by Giorgia Armani—to represent the Italian flag. A two-minute video on iconic Italian hand gestures added a cultural touch.
Italy, as the host nation, marched in last to deafening applause and cheers from the crowd in Milan.
Looking ahead, in about two years, the United States will have the honor of closing the parade of athletes when Los Angeles hosts the 2028 Summer Games. That opening ceremony is also planned to take place in multiple locations, with the Coliseum and SoFi Stadium co-hosting the event.
To further unite the Italian host cities, the Olympic flame was passed out of the stadium as Bocelli sang passionately. The torch simultaneously reached two cauldrons: one pulsating cauldron inspired by the sun in Milan’s Arco della Pace, and another lighting up Piazza Angelo Dibona in Cortina.
Call them twin flames—symbols of unity burning bright across Italy.
https://www.latimes.com/sports/olympics/story/2026-02-06/italians-embrace-unity-boo-jd-vance-at-olympics-opening-ceremony