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Legendary Italian alpine skiers Alberto Tomba and Deborah Compagnoni lit the flame at the cauldron located at the “Arch of Peace” in Milan. Meanwhile, Sofia Goggia, a key member of the current alpine skiing team, lit the flame at the Cortina cauldron.

For the first time ever, the Olympic flame was ignited at the same time in two different cities. This marked the moment when the theme of the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics, “Armonia (Harmony),” was realized.

At 8:02 p.m. local time on the 6th, the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics commenced at the San Siro Stadium in Milan, Italy.

Images of Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, the two hosting cities, were shown on the screen. As the countdown hit “0,” the word “ARMONIA” appeared on the digital scoreboard, signaling the beginning of the event.

South Korea’s team came in 22nd among 92 countries. Park Ji-woo (speed skating) and Cha Jun-hwan (figure skating) grinned widely while carrying the big national flag to the middle of the San Siro Stadium.

At the same time as Milan, our athletes also took the stage in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Livigno, and Predazzo, holding both large and small national flags.

Over 80,000 spectators filled the stadium, where a tribute to Antonio Canova, an 18th–19th-century Italian neoclassical artist and exceptional sculptor, was presented first. The tale of “Amor and Psyche” from Greek and Roman mythology was depicted through grand sculptures and the motions of dancers.

Italian actress Matilda De Angelis performed and led the “Symphony of the Imagination.” Figures symbolizing ancient Rome, Italian food, literature, and design then decorated the stadium.

Pop star Mariah Carey performed the Italian anthem “Nel Blu, Dipinto Di Blu” reaching its peak. The song is recognized in South Korea through its chorus, “Volare.” Carey’s performance included her popular track “Nothing Is Impossible.”

An unexpected visit from Italian President Sergio Mattarella took place. As a video displayed him picking up a fallen mascot doll for a child on a tram, the audience cheered upon realizing it was the president.

Models dressed in ensembles created by Giorgio Armani, the late Italian fashion designer who died last year, were seen in green, white, and red, representing the Italian flag.

The Italian national anthem was played at the same time in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo. In Milan, singer-songwriter Laura Pausini sang the anthem.

Gilded circular formations gradually accumulated in the middle and merged into a single entity, creating the Olympic rings to symbolize the event’s theme of “harmony.”

The procession of 92 national teams commenced. Greece, the origin of the Olympics, was the first to enter, while the host country Italy concluded the parade. South Korea entered in 22nd position, adhering to the Italian alphabetical sequence.

Giovanni Malago, the head of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics and Paralympics Organizing Committee, stated, “Tonight, Italy welcomes the world with open arms. I have a deep affection for my country, for sports, and for the Olympics.” Kirsty Coventry, a member of the IOC, remarked, “Give it your all and cherish each moment. I hope the athletes will show us how to rise again after falling, through their performances.”

At around 10:50 p.m., roughly one hour and 50 minutes following the start of the event, President Mattarella formally announced the commencement of the Olympics. As Andrea Bocelli performed “Nessun Dorma,” the flame left the San Siro Stadium. UN Peace Ambassador Charlize Theron shared a message of peace, while Italian rapper Ghali recited a peace poem in Italian, French, and English.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated, “Give your hearts to the competition. I wish all athletes a happy Olympics,” ending with “Forza Azzurri!” (Go, Azzurri!).

The initial event ended with the concurrent lighting in both cities while Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” was being played.

The stadium was quickly filled even before the event started, leaving no vacant seats from the beginning. Several hours prior to the event, large groups of people assembled at key subway stations near the stadium, frequently resulting in trains passing by without stopping.

Law enforcement kept a strong security presence, with sirens being heard as far as 4–5 km from the location.

The Olympics in Milan Cortina, which began today, will last for 17 days until the 22nd. With the closing ceremony held in Verona, nearly 2,900 athletes from 92 nations will vie for a total of 116 gold medals in 16 different sports.