Milan-Cortina Games begin with vibrant opening ceremony

BBC News - WorldCenterEN 2 min read 100% complete February 6, 2026 at 11:37 PM

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The Milan-Cortina Winter Olympic Games officially commenced with a vibrant opening ceremony held across four Italian locations: Milan, Cortina, Livigno, and Predazzo. The main event took place at Milan's San Siro stadium, featuring performances by Andrea Bocelli and Mariah Carey, alongside a parade of athletes. Lilah Fear and Brad Hall were the flagbearers for Great Britain in Milan and Cortina, respectively. The ceremony, themed around "armonia," aimed to unite territories and values, including a tribute to Giorgio Armani. While the Ukrainian and US teams received warm welcomes, some teams and US Vice-President JD Vance were met with boos. Kirsty Coventry, the first female IOC president, officially declared the Games open, emphasizing the values of excellence, friendship, and respect.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Kirsty Coventry 40% Great Britain 40% JD Vance 40% United States 40% Ukraine 40% Brad Hall 50% Lilah Fear 50% Andrea Bocelli 60% Italy ×270% Cortina ×470% Milan ×470% Milan-Cortina Winter Olympic Games ×290%

Keywords

winter olympic games 100% milan-cortina 90% opening ceremony 80% athletes 60% italy 60% international olympic committee 50% olympic cauldrons 50% values 40%