Earlier than the parade, inventive director Marco Balich’s present was based mostly across the precept of ‘armonia’ – that means union, connection, settlement – with “a story aimed toward uniting territories, individuals and values inside a shared imaginative and prescient”.

It featured sections labelled ‘Italian magnificence’ and ‘fantasia’, with a tribute to dressmaker Giorgio Armani, who died aged 91 in 2025.

In the meantime, American singer Mariah Carey – one of many world’s best-selling feminine artists – was decked out in a glowing white outfit as she carried out a model of Volare.

“We stand able to make Olympic historical past once more, impressed by the values that unite all of us: excellence, friendship and respect,” stated Giovanni Malago, president of the organising committee for Milan-Cortina 2026.

“The co-ordination of so many various our bodies within the pursuit of 1 dream has been a robust expression of this nation’s potential to ship such a posh mission.

“I’ve by no means been as proud to be Italian as I’m tonight.”

It was left to Worldwide Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry to declare the Video games open.

As the primary feminine IOC president, it’s the first time the Olympics have been formally opened by a lady.

“This is the reason all of us love the Video games. As a result of by way of you, we see the perfect of ourselves,” she instructed the athletes.

“You remind us that we will be courageous. That we will be type. That we are able to get again up, regardless of how laborious we fall.

“The spirit of the Olympic Video games is about a lot greater than sport. It’s about us – and what makes us human.

“That is the magic of the Olympic Video games: inspiring us all to be the perfect that we will be, collectively.”

Whereas occasions comparable to curling, determine skating and ice hockey have already begun, the primary 5 gold medals of the Video games might be received on Saturday.