Milan, 7 February 2026 (dpa/MIA) - The Milan/Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Olympics were officially opened with a colourful celebration of Italian history and lifestyle in a decentralised ceremony under the motto "Armonia" (Harmony) on Friday night.

Mariah Carey sang the iconic song Volare in Italian, famous composers like Giuseppe Verdi and Giacomo Puccini featured as cardboard figures, with childrens' book hero Pinocchio and Paparazzi photographers also part of the three-and-a-half hour show.

There was tribute to the late design king Giorgio Armani at Milan's San Siro stadium, with models wearing suits in Italy's national colours he had helped design.

Big honour for Tomba, Compagnoni, Goggia

Pop singer Laura Pausini sang the Italian national anthem and star tenor Andrea Bocelli performed Nessum Dorma before the cauldron was lit at Milan's Arco della Pace by triple Olympic skiing champions Deborah Compagnoni and Alberto Tomba and by gold medallist and current medal hope Sofia Goggia at Piazza Dibona in Cortina.

Italian President Sergio Mattarella formally opened the 25th Winter Olympics, the first with two host cities, two cauldrons and a decentralised opening ceremony with San Siro the main venue.

The snow and ice Games return to the Alps and Italy for the first time since Turin 2006. Cortina also hosted the snow and ice Games in 1956.

Mattarella was introduced in a video suggesting he was arriving at San Siro by tram driven by Italian motorcycle legend Valentino Rossi.

Coventry call for humanity

International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Kirsty Coventry, a twice swimming gold medallist for Zimbabwe overseeing her first Games since succeeding Thomas Bach last year, told the athletes to "enjoy every second" of the Games.

"You’ll show us what it means to be human. To dream. To overcome. To respect one another. To care for each other. You’ll show us that strength isn’t just about winning – it’s about courage, empathy and
heart," she said.

Coventry added in general terms: "Thank you for believing in the magic of the Olympic Games. The spirit of the Olympic Games is about so much more than sport.

"Let these Games be a celebration of what unites us – of everything that makes us human. This is the magic of the Olympic Games: inspiring us all to be the best that we can be – together."

Organizing committee president Giovanni Malago said: "We stand ready to make Olympic history again, inspired by the values that unite all of us: excellence, friendship and respect.

"I have never been as proud to be Italian as I am tonight."

Some 2,900 athletes from 92 countries are set to compete for 116 gold medals over 16 days until February 22.

Four venues for atheles' parade

The Games are the most spread out which led to the decentralised ceremony and the parade of nations at four different locations: Milan, Cortina, Livigno and Predazzo. Some nations had no athletes at all at San Siro.

Germany's male flag bearer Leon Draisaitl was in Milan where the ice hockey tournament is played but the team's female flagbearer, ski-jumper Katharina Schmid, was in Predazzo where her first event is on Saturday night.

Olympic champions Federica Brignone (alpine skiing) and Amos Mosaner (curling) shared the honour for hosts Italy while it was a family affair for Slovenia by ski jumping World Cup leaders Nika and Domen Prevc.

“It is a really special moment. When I first heard about it, I got goosebumps, and when I heard my sister would be with me, it was another level of feeling," Domen Prevc said.

The geopolitical situation could not be ignored when there was a big cheer for the Ukraine team but boos when the athletes from Israel arrived, and there were also boos when United States vice president JD Vance briefly appeared on the big screen.

Many dignitairies and tight security

More than 50 heads of state and government were at the San Siro, with the US delegation led by Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Germany was represented by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

The Games take place under tight security amid fears of attacks and sabotage. More than 6,000 security personnel will be on duty during the event.

Photo: epa