Performers at the Olympic opening ceremony at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. (Susana Vera/Pool Photo via AP)
The Milano-Cortina Olympic games have officially started.
The opening ceremony at Milan's San Siro soccer stadium payed tribute to Italian icons who have enriched their history like Leonardo Da Vinci, Giorgio Armani, Federico Fellini and Giacomo Puccini. Mariah Carey performed the famous Italian song "Volare" and hit all the high notes. Following the opening performance, the athletes took the stage to represent their country. The multi-city ceremony format allowed for mountain sport teams like bobsled, curling, and snowboarding to be represented without requiring them to travel hours to Milan.
The ceremony will be re-aired in a primetime broadcast at 8 p.m. Eastern on NBC.
Find out what's happening in Across Americafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Team USA has 232 athletes competing in the Olympics. The cheers were raucous as the American athletes entered the San Siro stadium and paraded down the path in Livigno. Vice President JD Vance and his wife Usha were in attendance at the ceremony.
After the athletes entered the venue, the festivities continued with Italian actress Sabrina Impacciatore and other performers acting out Winter Olympics of decades past. Singer Andrea Bocelli took the stage to sing "Nessun Dorma" from Puccini's Turandot. The glitzy acts led to the crowning moment of the two olympic cauldrons being lit simultaneously with the Arco della Pace in Milan and the d’Ampezzo in Piazza Dibona in Cortina.
Find out what's happening in Across Americafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
See pictures below of the performances and athletes at the Milan-Cortina Olympics.
Final torchbearer Italian skier Sofia Goggia holds the torch of the Olympic flame to light the Olympic cauldron designed by Marco Balich during the Olympic opening ceremony at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. (Stefano Rellandini/Pool Photo via AP)Final torchbearer Italian skier Sofia Goggia holds the torch of the Olympic flame to light the Olympic cauldron designed by Marco Balich during the Olympic opening ceremony at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. (Stefano Rellandini/Pool Photo via AP)The Olympic torch is passed during the Olympic opening ceremony at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)Italian former skier Deborah Compagnoni and Italian former skier Alberto Tomba light the cauldron at the Arco della Pace during the Olympic opening ceremony at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Loaner12)Italian actor Matilda De Angelis, left, performs during the Olympic opening ceremony at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)The culture of Italy brings color to the country. (Susana Vera/Pool Photo via AP)Suited models walk the catwalk in Italy's colors to honor the late fashion designer Georgio Armani. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)The Italian flag was raised during the Olympic opening ceremony. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)US Vice President JD Vance, center, attends the Olympics. (Andreas Rentz/Pool Photo via AP)Mariah Carey performs "Volare". (Andreas Rentz/Pool Photo via AP)Team South Korea enters the stadium during the Olympic opening ceremony at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)Fireworks explode around the Olympic rings. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)Dancers perform during the Olympic opening ceremony. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)Famous Italian composers dance during the ceremony. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)Erin Jackson, flag bearer of United States arrives with Team USA. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)Athletes from the United States walk during the Olympic opening ceremony at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. (Cameron Spencer/Pool Photo via AP)Artists perform a dance number paying homage to the original Winter olympics in Chamonix. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)Performers showcase decades of the Winter Olympics. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)Singer Andrea Bocelli sings before the lighting of the Olympic cauldron. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Torchbearers Deborah Compagnoni and Alberto Tomba light the Olympic cauldron in Milan. (Jamie Squire/Pool Photo via AP) Fireworks go off after the Olympic cauldron is lit. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)The Associated Press contributed to this report.
