Milan's San Siro stadium erupted into cheers as the 2026 Winter Olympics officially kicked off, but a peculiar absence drew attention - competitors from five countries announced prior to the event failed to show. A dual-cauldron opening ceremony spanning four sites in the Dolomites, Alps, and Trento regions featured a diverse array of tributes to Italian culture, including tributes to Leonardo da Vinci, Dante, Puccini, and Fellini, alongside pasta and vino.
Mariah Carey brought her iconic voice to the event, belting out 'Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu' aka 'Volare,' prompting enthusiastic responses from fans across four locations. The ceremony also paid homage to Mariah's global appeal with its diverse audience participation.
The multi-city format allowed for athletes from various mountain locales to participate in the Parade of Nations at separate locations, raising questions about what led to a lack of competitors from Greece, Albania, Saudi Arabia, and Argentina at San Siro. However, Armenia's entrance drew raucous cheers, as did those from other countries that did attend.
A notable aspect of this year's ceremony is the dual cauldron setup, symbolizing the unity of Italy with its mountain ranges. The event has sparked discussion about global tensions and harmony in a time when international relations have become increasingly strained.
At the heart of these festivities was a message of peace conveyed by South African actor Charlize Theron and Italian rapper Ghali. International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry emphasized respect as an essential element, suggesting that crowd reactions would be a crucial factor in assessing the event's overall impact.
Italian singer Andrea Bocelli provided emotional resonance with his rendition of Puccini's "Nessun Dorma," which concluded with torch bearers heading out to light both cauldrons at different locations. These dual flames aim to represent Leonardo da Vinci's geometric studies, symbolizing unity between the mountains and the city.
The 2026 Winter Olympics boast a unique multi-city format that has been well-received by fans despite criticisms about limited representation from certain countries. The event showcases an impressive array of cultural references and serves as a testament to Italy's rich heritage in music, art, literature, architecture, and cuisine.
Mariah Carey brought her iconic voice to the event, belting out 'Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu' aka 'Volare,' prompting enthusiastic responses from fans across four locations. The ceremony also paid homage to Mariah's global appeal with its diverse audience participation.
The multi-city format allowed for athletes from various mountain locales to participate in the Parade of Nations at separate locations, raising questions about what led to a lack of competitors from Greece, Albania, Saudi Arabia, and Argentina at San Siro. However, Armenia's entrance drew raucous cheers, as did those from other countries that did attend.
A notable aspect of this year's ceremony is the dual cauldron setup, symbolizing the unity of Italy with its mountain ranges. The event has sparked discussion about global tensions and harmony in a time when international relations have become increasingly strained.
At the heart of these festivities was a message of peace conveyed by South African actor Charlize Theron and Italian rapper Ghali. International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry emphasized respect as an essential element, suggesting that crowd reactions would be a crucial factor in assessing the event's overall impact.
Italian singer Andrea Bocelli provided emotional resonance with his rendition of Puccini's "Nessun Dorma," which concluded with torch bearers heading out to light both cauldrons at different locations. These dual flames aim to represent Leonardo da Vinci's geometric studies, symbolizing unity between the mountains and the city.
The 2026 Winter Olympics boast a unique multi-city format that has been well-received by fans despite criticisms about limited representation from certain countries. The event showcases an impressive array of cultural references and serves as a testament to Italy's rich heritage in music, art, literature, architecture, and cuisine.
omg did u no the olympics were on today? 
i'm lowkey surprised Greece didnt show but Armenia tho 
charlize theron and ghali gave me chills with that peace message 
i love how ity's highlighting unity & respect 
Andrea Bocelli's Nessun Dorma was so emotional tho 
u think the lack of reps from saudia arabia and argentina is cuz of global tensions? 
what do u think about the multi-city format? 
. It's like they just... disappeared or something? And what's up with Greece, Albania, Saudi Arabia, and Argentina all skipping it too? Did some countries have issues traveling to Italy or was it just a last-minute thing? Don't get me wrong, Armenia and other countries that did show up were lit 
but you'd think more would be there for the Olympics 
. Anyway, I'm glad Mariah Carey brought her fire to the ceremony 
I'm literally SHAKING over that performance by Mariah Carey!!! 
And let's not forget Andrea Bocelli's rendition of "Nessun Dorma" - chills all over 
five countries that didn't show up is pretty weird, especially since they were all announced beforehand. I mean, was it some kind of protest or did they just forget? 
Also, I love how Italy celebrated its culture and history, but what's with the limited representation from other countries? It feels like some countries get snubbed, while others are all about the drama 
. The music and performances were fire 
. but come on, if the IOC wants to emphasize respect, why can't they get all 200+ countries to show up? seems like a bit of an oxymoron when you think about it 
. I mean, they all announced prior to the event, but nope, not a single athlete from any of those countries made it to Milan. It's like they just didn't show up 
. The question is, what happened? Was it some kind of last-minute change or something more... 
especially Greece, Albania, Saudi Arabia, and Argentina which are all pretty well-known for their athletes. Was there something specific going on or was it just a last-minute change of plans? And yeah, the multi-city format is cool, but you'd think they could've at least had some kind of explanation for why those countries aren't participating 
