The 25th Winter Olympics began its official schedule with an opening ceremony held early Friday (Korea time) at San Siro Olympic Stadium in Milan.
The ceremony was staged simultaneously in multiple locations, including San Siro and Piazza Dibona in Cortina d'Ampezzo. The format reflected an operating plan aimed at minimizing new construction and emphasizing sustainability, with events spread across six zones including Milan and Cortina.
With Milan hosting ice events and Cortina hosting skiing and curling, the two hubs are more than 400 kilometers (about 250 miles) apart, making it difficult for delegations to gather in one place. Organizers designed the opening as a multi-stage production.
Olympic cauldrons were installed at Milan’s Arco della Pace and at Piazza Dibona in Cortina. It was the first time two cities shared the official Olympic name and the first time two cauldrons were lit at the same time.
The organizing committee titled the ceremony “Armonia,” the Italian word for “harmony.”
The show opened with a performance inspired by the work of 16th-century sculptor Antonio Canova, using a dance reinterpretation of the myth of Cupid and Psyche to convey the theme.
Performers then portrayed Italian opera composers Giuseppe Verdi, Giacomo Puccini and Gioachino Rossini, joined by dancers in music-note-themed costumes. A giant paint-tube prop descended to underscore art and harmony.
A character parade evoking ancient Rome and the Renaissance followed, and pop star Mariah Carey performed her hits.
After Italian President Sergio Mattarella and International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry entered, the ceremony included a tribute to fashion designer Giorgio Armani, who died in September. Models wearing Armani designs filled the stadium in the colors of the Italian flag.
Model Vittoria Ceretti carried the flag in Milan for the raising, while former national team cross-country skiers took part in the flag-raising at the Cortina venue.
South Korea entered 22nd, led by co-flag bearers Cha Jun Hwan (figure skating, Seoul City Hall) and Park Ji Woo (speedskating, Gangwon Provincial Government). Host Italy entered last, using four flag bearers — two in each city.
Following Mattarella’s declaration opening the Games, a torch relay segment was staged with a performance by tenor Andrea Bocelli. Ten people served as Olympic flag bearers, including Pita Taufatofua, known as the “Tongan strongman.”
In Milan, Eliud Kipchoge, Cindy Ngamba, Filippo Grandi, Nicolo Govoni, Mariam Bukha Hassan, Rebeca Andrade and Akiba Tadatohi carried the Olympic flag. In Cortina, Franco Nones and Martina Valcepina took part.
After the athletes’ oath, the two cauldrons were lit simultaneously by the final torchbearers. The cauldrons were spherical structures inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s “Knots.”
The Games run through the 22nd, with 116 gold medals to be awarded across eight sports and 16 disciplines.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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