Milano Cortina 2026: Looking Back on the Opening Ceremony and the First Two Days
On February 6 (local time), the 25th Olympic Winter Games, “Milano Cortina 2026,” officially began. Alongside the main venue at Milan’s San Siro Stadium, a first-of-its-kind “distributed opening ceremony” linked four venues online—Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Livigno, and Predazzo. The theme was “Armonia,” the Italian word for “harmony.” It was an opening where snow and city, tradition and cutting-edge blended seamlessly.
An “Armonia” show linking four cities
About 60,000 spectators gathered at San Siro as performances inspired by cultures and histories from across Italy unfolded one after another. The voices of global artists such as Mariah Carey and Andrea Bocelli, a performance by pianist Lang Lang, and an homage to Italian fashion—diverse elements were tied together under the keyword “harmony.”
The Olympic flame was lit in two locations—Milan and Cortina—and the cauldron design, said to be inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s sketches, illuminated the night sky. The “two flames” connecting city and mountains may become the defining image of these Games.
TEAM JAPAN’s parade and flag bearers
TEAM JAPAN entered the stadium led by flag bearers Wataru Morishige (speed skating) and Sena Tomita (snowboarding). With a contingent of 120 athletes, Japan’s delegation stood out in a striking look: red jackets contrasted with white pants, as they waved back to the roaring crowd.
Japan’s winter sports presence has grown across both Summer and Winter Games. With many “medal contenders” already being discussed at the opening ceremony stage, the athletes showed both relaxed smiles and focused eyes.
Key medal results from the first two days
Competition began in earnest the next day, February 7. The first gold medal of the Games was awarded in the men’s alpine downhill, and early drama—already emblematic of these Games—emerged in events such as women’s normal hill ski jumping and men’s snowboard big air.
| Date | Sport | Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 6 | Alpine Skiing | Men’s Downhill | Franjo von Allmen (Switzerland) | Giovanni Franzoni (Italy) | Dominik Paris (Italy) |
| Feb 7 | Ski Jumping | Women’s Normal Hill | Anna Odine Strøm (Norway) | Nika Prevc (Slovenia) | Nozomi Maruyama (Japan) |
| Feb 7 | Snowboard | Men’s Big Air | Kira Kimura (Japan) | Ryoma Kimata (Japan) | Su Yiming (China) |
Detailed records and full standings for all events are being updated continuously on the Milano Cortina 2026 official results page. From the very start, it’s been a tightly contested mix featuring host Italy, Nordic powers, and Japan all jostling together.
Official X posts and highlight video
If you’d like to relive the atmosphere, check the official posts and highlight videos as well.
