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Milano Cortina 2026’s Winter Olympics opening ceremony unfolded Friday as a bold, geographically ambitious spectacle titled “Armonia” (Harmony), weaving live performances across San Siro Stadium, Cortina d’Ampezzo and beyond into a narrative celebrating Italy’s dual urban-mountain soul. The nearly three-hour show blended La Scala-inspired dance, global superstars like Mariah Carey and Laura Pausini, and dual cauldron lightings, though fragmented execution, political boos and protest interruptions tempered its grandeur.

Directed by Marco Balich with a Giorgio Armani fashion homage, the ceremony innovated by distributing athlete parades across four clusters — Milan (indoor), Cortina (Alpine/sliding), Livigno (freestyle) and Predazzo (Nordic) — ensuring all 3,000+ competitors participated despite vast distances. Critics hailed the simultaneity as “intimate and enormous,” but some found it disjointed, lacking traditional cohesion.

Dual cauldrons ignite across Italy: A first for Olympics

In a historic twist, two Olympic cauldrons blazed simultaneously: Milan’s Arco della Pace and Cortina’s Piazza Dibona, symbolizing city-mountain unity. Supermodel Vittoria Ceretti, in all-white Armani, carried the torch from San Siro to ignite Milan’s flame via “magic of technology,” while Cortina’s lit remotely — a logistical marvel marred by elongated sequences.

The multi-venue parade replaced single-stadium marches with live feeds: ice skaters in Milan, snowboarders in Livigno, biathletes in Predazzo. Television editing fluidly integrated segments, creating “four ceremonies in one,” though live crowds felt the fragmentation. U.S. athletes drew massive cheers at San Siro, only for boos to erupt during Vice President JD Vance’s brief appearance — a tense moment swiftly cut away.​

‘Armonia’ theme: Beauty over politics, but protests intrude

“Armonia” promised a “voyage through art and innovation,” honoring Leonardo da Vinci, Italian design and Olympic ethos. Ethereal dancers opened with La Scala nods — marble busts, flowing choreography — evoking tranquility before escalating to time-travel motifs and massive bobbleheads. Actress Matilda De Angelis narrated, tying fragmented acts into harmony’s promise.

Mariah Carey kicked off with hits, joined by Grammy/Golden Globe winner Laura Pausini and tenor Andrea Bocelli from Tuscany. Production designer Paolo Fantin and music director Andrea Farri delivered visual feasts — ice-block banners, fashion-sports uniforms — though Deadline critiqued “gimmicks over glamour” in the flame-lighting finale.

Protests disrupted: anti-Olympic banners decried housing costs, Palestinian solidarity chants pierced whistles. Organized rather than chaotic, they underscored Italy’s civic pulse amid global tensions.​

Parade of Nations: Distributed drama delights, divides

Fragmenting the traditional parade minimized travel while showcasing venues. San Siro hosted urban nations; Cortina mountain squads. Graphics aided viewers, but stadium pacing dragged — “seemingly endless procession,” per IndieWire.​

U.S. flagbearers received roars; host Italy closed to “Il Canto degli Italiani.” IOC President Thomas Bach’s farewell preceded LA 2028 handover.​

Critics praise innovation, critique cohesion

The Guardian (4/5 stars): “Intimate and enormous… less march of nations, more curated narrative mirroring distributed sports.”​

Deadline: “Three hours, three acts lacked unity beyond visual devotion… historic spectacle, per Malagò.”​

IndieWire: “Weirdness in short supply, but harmony attempts shone in editing.”​

Variety: “Somber tone, stringent security for 2.2B viewers; dual flames wowed.”​

Global audience hit billions; Peacock/NBC streamed live.​

Day 1 medals await: Shiffrin, Chen, Kim in spotlight

Saturday yields five golds: men’s downhill (Bormio, 5:30 a.m. ET), women’s skiathlon (Val di Fiemme). Nathan Chen eyes figure skating three-peat; Chloe Kim defends halfpipe; Mikaela Shiffrin chases records.​

Hosts Italy (130 athletes) bank on Federica Brignone, Sofia Goggia. Russia as AIN; China fields Eileen Gu.​

Production triumphs and logistical feats

Balich Wonder Studio executed Balich’s vision: da Vinci inventions, culinary nods, youth segments. Armani costumes fused elegance-sports; Cantini Parrini’s designs dazzled. San Siro’s 75,000 roared; remote venues pulsed simultaneously.​

Security — drones, robots, thousands of officers — shielded dignitaries including Vance, Rubio. Sustainability shone: 99% legacy venues.

What ‘Armonia’ means for Olympics future

Milano Cortina pioneered polycentric ceremonies, influencing LA 2028, Brisbane 2032. “Harmony” — uniting disparate elements — resonated amid division, though execution split opinions.​

Malagò called it “promise to the world”; Varnier hailed inclusive athlete participation. From San Siro spectacle to Cortina flames, Italy delivered innovation — if not unalloyed unity.