On February 6th, the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympic Games were officially inaugurated with the Opening Ceremony that took place at the iconic San Siro Stadium in Milano.

For the first time in Olympic history, the Ceremony was designed to unfold across Milano and Cortina, then expand to all sites where the Winter Games take place during the National Olympic Committees’ parade.

Milano is in an exceptional location, with the snowy Alps easily visible from everywhere in the city. These Olympics encourage a dialogue between urban and nature, coming together in “Armonia” (harmony) which was the official theme of the night. Beauty, art, and culture came together as a universal language of peace and sustainability, with territories, people, and values all uniting in harmony.

Let me just say this from the start: the Opening Ceremony was something incredible. I knew it would be special, but I never imagined it would be that special.

The vibe was phenomenal, with an audience of nearly 70,000, all provided with bracelets that lit up to create a light show to go with each segment of the Ceremony. The cheers were heartwarming: I really cannot tell you how much I felt my heart would explode with joy, experiencing all that was going on.

The Ceremony started with a celebration of Italian creativity and culture: from art and opera to ballet, cinema, and some typical traits of being Italian. The opening act had statues on stage that were joined by performers to turn into a living museum that evolved into an intricate choreographic set to include art and dance, as a tribute to Italian neoclassicism (including references to sculptor and painter Antonio Canova) and ballet and performing arts of the Teatro alla Scala (opera theatre). The next acts evolved into a celebration of Italian icons, including inventions, cuisine, literature, and of course fashion, with costumes leading the Italian flag that were designed by Giorgio Armani.

Opening Ceremonies are famous for big celebrity names, and this one did not disappoint. It started off with Mariah Carey singing the famous “Volare” song, dressed in white and with her distinctive high note eventually coming out to receive a loud cheer from the audience. Italian international star Laura Pausini delivered a goosebump-worthy performance singing the Italian national anthem, while Ghali sang in a moving segment asking for peace. Pianist superstar Lang Lang joined forces with soprano Cecilia Bartoli and children of the choir of La Scala to perform the Olympic anthem.

Tell me, though: what did you think of Andrea Bocelli singing “Nessun Dorma”? Was that not stunning? Talking to skaters in the mixed zone, his name came up often, as by the time he performed, the athletes were already sitting next to the stage where he sang from.

The long list of stars also included segments with actress Sabrina Impacciatore, a funny lesson on Italian hand gestures (you know that Italians talk with their hands too?), and a moving Charlize Theron quoting words from Nobel Peace Prize winner Nelson Mandela, which I’d like to share:

“Peace is not just the absence of conflict; peace is the creation of an environment where all can flourish, regardless of race, colour, creed, religion, gender, class, caste, or any other social markers of difference.”

“Today, this message seems more relevant than ever, so let these Games be more than just sport. Let them be a reminder of our common humanity, our respect for one another, and a resounding call for peace everywhere.”

This is in line with the solemn moment of the Olympic Truce, when all come together to appeal for peace. The Olympic Values embody this: excellence, respect, friendship, setting all rivalries aside and celebrating what unites us. You could live and breathe this throughout the entire Ceremony. They were all there, a reminder of the true meaning of the Olympic Games. In the words of the International Olympic Committee President, Kirsty Coventry: “The spirit of the Olympic Games is about so much more than sport. It is about us, and what makes us human.”

The Athletes’ Parade was a special moment, with a first-ever multi-site parade from the four locations where the Games are taking place: Milano, Cortina, Predazzo, and Livigno.

Each National Olympic Committee was announced and introduced by a person holding an ice block with the country’s name written on it. Occasionally, smaller National Olympic Committees would only parade in the location they were competing in, but each location would still have a person with the country’s ice block walking at each site.

But when the flags were coming in with athletes following them, you could see big smiles on their faces that were contagious and a reflection of how much this all means to them. This parade was in line with the concept of Armonia, showing that multiple places can share a common spirit and unite as one.

We had special moments for our skating community as well, with some of the names we know well serving as flag bearers for their countries: Olivia Smart jumped with joy while carrying the Spanish flag, Lilah Fear beamed with pride while waving Great Britain’s flag, Diana Davis was visibly moved when she entered the stadium with the Georgian flag, and Allison Reed and Saulius Ambrulevičius glowed while carrying the Lithuanian flag.

As you can imagine, everyone who could join the parade, including our beloved ice dancers, had a huge smile on their face, savouring this unique moment in their careers and lives.

Also historic was the presence of two Olympic Cauldrons, one in Milano’s Arco della Pace and one in Cortina, modelled on Leonardo da Vinci’s designs. The Olympic Flame reached them simultaneously, allowing both Cauldrons to light up like suns, embodying again the concept of Armonia.

My top moment had to be when the Five Olympic Rings merged all together in the middle of the stadium. The Olympics have always been a special event for me, so to see the five rings right before my eyes almost made it clear to me that I was living something I had always dreamed of.

Let me end by mentioning the beautiful message delivered by Kirsty Coventry to all Olympians at these Winter Games. Here are some quotes from it that I’d like to share with you:

“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.

You will not only make incredible memories. You will reach your Olympic dreams, and you will show the world how to live.

This is why we all love the Olympic Games. Because through you, we see the very best of ourselves. You remind us that we can be brave. That we can be kind. And that we can get back up, no matter how hard we fall.”

Matteo