Opening with a pure-white stage depicting the mythological love of Cupid and Psyche
Masks of Verdi, Puccini, and Rossini appear...Memorial fashion show for Armani
Korean delegation enters 22nd, led by flagbearers Park Jiwoo and Cha Junhwan
Mariah
The 25th Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics raised its curtain on 17 days of competition with a spectacular opening ceremony held at 4:00 a.m. on the 7th (Korean time) at San Siro, the sacred ground of football in Milan, Italy.
As the Italian government chose to minimize the construction of new facilities related to the Olympics, these Games are being staged in a decentralized format across six regions of Italy, including Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo. Accordingly, the opening ceremony was also held simultaneously in multiple locations, centering on San Siro Olympic Stadium and extending to sites such as Piazza Dibona in Cortina d'Ampezzo.
After the countdown ended, the Italian word "Armonia," meaning "harmony" and serving as the theme of the opening ceremony, appeared on the giant screen, marking the official start of the event.
On the 6th (local time), at San Siro Stadium in Milan, Italy, a performance themed "Harmony of Italy: Fantasia" is taking place at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. [Photo by Yonhap News]
The first performance interpreted the mythological love story of Cupid and Psyche through the aesthetics of pure white. Against the backdrop of four representative sculptures by Italian Neoclassical sculptor Antonio Canova (1757-1822), dancers portrayed the journey of the human soul overcoming trials and growing through love. The group choreography by dancers dressed in white delicately conveyed the message that human beings mature through love.
A stage themed "Fantasia" followed. Italian actress Matilda De Angelis appeared holding a conductor's baton, joined on stage by performers wearing masks of Italy's representative opera composers Giuseppe Verdi, Giacomo Puccini, and Gioachino Rossini. As famous opera pieces such as the "Triumphal March" from "Aida" and "Nessun Dorma" from "Turandot" were performed, the atmosphere reached a climax. In the sky, gigantic paint tubes in red, blue, and yellow appeared, and soon paint poured down, transforming the stage into a brilliant full spectrum of colors created by the three primary colors.
Italian actress Matilda De Angelis is appearing on stage with cast members wearing masks of Italy's representative opera composers Giuseppe Verdi, Giacomo Puccini, and Gioachino Rossini. Photo by AFP-Yonhap
On the 6th (local time), at San Siro Stadium in Milan, Italy, a performance under the theme 'Harmony of Italy: Fantasia' is taking place at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. [Photo by Yonhap News]
Next, global pop star Mariah Carey appeared, drawing thunderous cheers from the crowd. Mariah Carey further heightened the excitement by powerfully singing "Nel blu, dipinto di blu (Volare)," famous for its refrain "Volare" meaning "to fly," along with her own hit song "There Is No Impossible."
After Italian President Sergio Mattarella and International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Curtis Coventry entered, a flag-raising ceremony followed that also served as a tribute stage to honor Italian fashion icon Giorgio Armani, who passed away last September. Models dressed in outfits symbolizing the Italian tricolor of white, red, and green presented a fashion show-style performance, and leading Italian model Vittoria Ceretti handed the tricolor flag to the honor guard. As Italian singer Laura Pausini sang the Italian national anthem, the national flag of Italy was raised.
To the accompaniment of Italian violinist Giovanni Andrea Zanon, the golden Olympic rings were completed, and the formal athletes' parade began. In keeping with tradition, the Greek delegation, from the birthplace of the modern Olympics, entered first, and in Italian alphabetical order, the Korean delegation entered 22nd, led by speed skater Park Jiwoo and figure skater Cha Junhwan as flag bearers.
On the 6th (local time), at San Siro Stadium in Milan, Italy, during the opening ceremony of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, the Olympic rings, the symbol of the Games, were completed. Photo by Yonhap News
On the 6th (local time), athletes are entering during the opening ceremony of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics held at San Siro Stadium in Milan, Italy. [Photo by AFP Yonhap News]
On the 6th (local time), at San Siro Stadium in Milan, Italy, the Korean delegation is entering during the opening ceremony of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. [Photo by Yonhap News]
After the athletes had finished entering, a segment titled "Time Travel" looked back on the history of the Winter Olympics, and the flags of 92 participating countries were brought in. Speeches were then delivered by Giovanni Malago, President of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics Organizing Committee, IOC President Curtis Coventry, and Italian President Sergio Mattarella, who declared the Games open.
As Andrea Bocelli gave a powerful rendition of "Nessun Dorma," the most famous aria from Puccini's opera "Turandot," the torch relay continued.
Following the relay by the heroes of Italy's 1982 FIFA World Cup victory, Italy's legendary Summer Olympic champions carried the flame, which then departed San Siro Olympic Stadium. During the ensuing "Doves of Peace" performance, South African-born American actress Charlize Theron made a surprise appearance to deliver a message of peace.
After the Olympic flag was raised, Italian opera singer Cecilia Bartoli sang the Olympic Hymn accompanied by a performance from Chinese pianist Lang Lang.
Chinese pianist Lang Lang is performing the Olympic Hymn at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics held at San Siro Stadium in Milan, Italy on the 6th (local time). Photo by UPI Yonhap News
The torch that had left San Siro was used to light the cauldron installed at the Arch of Peace in Milan, bringing the roughly three-and-a-half-hour opening ceremony to a close.
Two spherical cauldrons, inspired by "Knots," a work attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, one of the great masters of the Italian Renaissance, were installed: one at the Arch of Peace in Milan and the other at Piazza Dibona in Cortina d'Ampezzo.
For the lighting of the cauldron at the Arch of Peace in Milan, Italian Winter Olympic legends such as Manuela Di Centa, Enrico Fabris, Gustav Thoeni, and Sofia Goggia carried the torch through the streets of Milan. The final torchbearers were Deborah Compagnoni and Alberto Tomba, each of whom has won three gold medals at past Winter Olympics.
The 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics torch was lit at the Arch of Peace in Milan, Italy. Photo by UPI Yonhap
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