For the first time in history, the opening ceremony was held in four cities: Milan, Cortina d'Ampezzo, Predazzo, and Livigno. This allowed athletes to attend the ceremonies in the locations where their competitions will take place.
The ceremony was organized by Balich Wonder Studio under the direction of Marco Balich, who previously produced 14 Olympic events.
The presentation at the San Siro stadium was dedicated to Italy's cultural heritage and uniqueness. The Olympic flame was lit in two cauldrons: in Milan, the torch was carried by famous skiers Alberto Tomba and Deborah Compagnoni, while in Cortina d'Ampezzo, this honor went to skier Sofia Goggia.
In the concluding part of the event, welcoming words were delivered by Giovanni Malagò, chairman of the organizing committee for the 2026 Games, and Kirsty Coventry, head of the International Olympic Committee, for whom these Games marked her first in the new position. The opening of the Olympics was officially announced by the President of Italy, Sergio Mattarella.
The XXV Winter Olympic Games will last until February 22, and the Winter Paralympic Games will take place from March 6 to 15. A total of 2,871 athletes from 93 countries will compete for 116 sets of medals in 16 disciplines.
