Athletes Parade at Four Italian Sites as Winter Olympics Open

The Winter Games of Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo formally kicked off with exuberant opening ceremonies that mixed pledges of sportsmanship with a celebration of Italian culture. At the ceremonies’ climax, Alberto Tomba and Deborah Compagnoni lit the Olympic cauldron in Milan, while Sofia Goggia lit the cauldron in Cortina.

Athletes entered behind their national flags at the main ceremony in Milan, and there were three other athlete parades in Cortina, Predazzo and Livigno. Greece, as the founder of the Games, entered first and Italy, as the host, entered last; each country’s name-card carrier wore an elegant, expansive silver puffer coat and dark eyeglasses.

Hosts of the coming Olympics entered just before Italy — meaning the large American team marched right after Venezuela, the country whose leader the Trump administration seized in a recent military operation. The U.S. delegation drew a mixed reception, and when Vice President JD Vance appeared on the stadium’s jumbo screen some jeers were audible.

Italy, Milan, Cortina, Predazzo, Livigno