In the early hours of February 7th (Vietnam time), Italian President Sergio Mattarella declared the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics open in a solemn ceremony at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy. This marks the first time in the history of the Winter Olympics that the opening ceremony and main activities have been held simultaneously at multiple host locations.
The 2026 Winter Olympics will bring together approximately 2,900 athletes from 92 countries and territories. The competitions will be held across a vast area of about 22,000 km², stretching from Milan to Cortina d'Ampezzo, Predazzo, and Livigno, making it the largest Olympic Games in history, considering both the Winter and Summer Games.
The opening ceremony paid tribute to the two host cities, Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo – the site of the 1956 Winter Olympics. Traditionally, the Greek team led the parade, while the host nation Italy appeared last, concluding the solemn ceremony.
The arts program at San Siro was deeply rooted in Italian culture, featuring many international artists. Singer Mariah Carey, renowned singer Andrea Bocelli, pianist Lang Lang, and singer Laura Pausini created emotionally rich moments.
The show also included a tribute to designer Giorgio Armani – a fashion icon synonymous with Milan, who passed away last September.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry emphasized that the Olympic spirit lies not only in sporting achievements, but also in shared values of humanity, peace , and dialogue among nations.
Milano Cortina 2026 also made history by being the first time that two Olympic cauldrons were located there. One cauldron was placed at Arco della Pace in Milan, and the other at Piazza Dibona, in the center of Cortina d'Ampezzo.
The two flames were lit and extinguished simultaneously, symbolizing the connection between the host locations and the global spirit of Olympic solidarity.
The Olympic cauldron was designed with inspiration from Leonardo da Vinci's famous geometric shapes, combining art, engineering, and environmentally friendly technology.
From February 7th to 22nd, the area where the flame is located in Milan will be transformed into a public art performance space, with short performances held continuously in the evenings.
With its expanded scope and increased involvement of the local community, the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics is expected to be not only a top-tier sporting event but also a new model for the modern Olympic Games, where sport, culture, and creativity go hand in hand.
Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/the-thao/le-khai-mac-olympic-mua-dong-2026-203284.html
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