Alpha News

Opening Ceremony with Enthusiasm and Imperfections

Published February 15, 2026, 09:33

The opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics was characterized by enthusiasm, but also by some imperfections. Mariah Carey's appearance was brief and her performance of the song "Volare" was whispered, while Laura Pausini sang the national anthem in playback. The ceremony was decentralized, with the athletes' parade taking place in various cities, including Milan, Cortina d'Ampezzo, Livigno and Prentano. The organizers emphasized the importance of "decentralization" and the cost of the Games, which exceeds 6 billion euros. A tribute was paid to Giorgio Armani, who designed part of the clothing for the ceremony, while the placement of the Olympic Flame in the "Arch of Peace" had great symbolic value. However, there was also an off-program incident, with Italian singer Ghali being ignored by the director and the Rai presenters, which raised questions. Italian President Sergio Mattarella arrived at the stadium in a tram driven by Valentino Rossi, while the absence of French President Emmanuel Macron was noticeable.