The 25th Winter Olympics officially began on Friday night in northern Italy, with Greece symbolically present from the outset during an unprecedented opening ceremony that saw the Olympic flame ignited simultaneously in both Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.
In keeping with a tradition dating back to the inception of the modern Olympic movement, Greece led the Parade of Nations, marking the start of two weeks of competition across northern Italy.
The ceremony was themed around the concept of harmony and functioned as a “widespread” event, linking four distinct athlete clusters via high-speed satellite feeds. While the primary artistic display unfolded at Milan’s San Siro football stadium, separate parades took place in Cortina, Livigno, and Predazzo.
Greece leading parade at Winter Olympic Games 2026
Greece once again underscored its symbolic role at the Winter Olympics by leading the Parade of Nations as the Games officially got underway in northern Italy.
It was in Predazzo that cross-country skier Nefeli Tita bore the Greek flag, leading a five-strong delegation that included alpine skier Maria Eleni Tsiovolou and veteran cross-country athlete Apostolos Angelis. For a brief moment during the broadcast, the stage in Milan stood empty to honor the birthplace of the Games before the Greek contingent appeared on the stadium’s massive digital screens, effectively bridging the 400-kilometer (248-mile) gap between the venues.
The artistic program sought to blend Italy’s classical ancient heritage with its modern status as a global fashion capital. The Italian tri-colored flag was delivered to the stage by models dressed in the latest designs of the late Giorgio Armani followed by a performance from US pop icon Mariah Carey.
Appearing as the “Queen of Ice,” Carey performed a multilingual set that began with the Italian classic “Nel Blu, dipinto di Blu” before transitioning into her recent single, “Nothing Is Impossible.” The musical backdrop remained a focal point throughout the evening, featuring performances by tenor Andrea Bocelli, a simultaneous rendition of the national anthem by Laura Pausini in Milan, and a mountain choir in Cortina.
JD Vance booed in stadium
However, the celebratory atmosphere also included moments of political tension. US Vice President JD Vance, representing the Trump administration alongside US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, was met with a chorus of boos and whistles from the Milanese crowd when his image appeared on the stadium jumbotron.
The reaction follows a week of local protests in Milan regarding the presence of US immigration agents as part of the Olympic security detail, a move that Milan’s Mayor, Giuseppe Sala, had publicly strongly opposed. The hostility dissipated only when the American athletes entered the arena to loud cheers.
The evening concluded with the historic lighting of two Olympic cauldrons. In Cortina, the honor fell to alpine skiing champion Sofia Goggia. The flame was delivered by Alberto Tomba and Deborah Compagnoni. As the two cauldrons were lit at the same moment, Italian President Sergio Mattarella declared the Games officially open. Over 2,900 athletes from 92 nations will now compete across 116 events until the closing ceremony on February 22.
Related: Can AJ Ginnis Bring Greece Its First Winter Olympic Medal?
