Opening Ceremonies to Formally Kick Off Milan-Cortina Winter Games

The Winter Games of Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo will formally kick off with opening ceremonies on Friday. Athletes will enter San Siro behind their national flags in the Parade of Nations, and for the first time there will be four such parades, with the others taking place in Cortina, Predazzo and Livigno.

Organizers say the show will be an up-tempo celebration of Italian culture and history, likely spotlighting science, visual arts and music — opera is expected to feature — and perhaps nodding to figures like Garibaldi. The Olympic flag will be carried into San Siro by an international crew that includes Eliud Kipchoge, Tadatoshi Akiba and Pita Taufatofua, and the oath will be recited with the line, “We promise to take part in these Olympic Games, respecting and abiding by the rules and in the spirit of fair play.” Two cauldrons, inspired by Leonardo da Vinci, will be lit, one in Milan and one in Cortina, and scheduled performers include Andrea Bocelli and Mariah Carey.

Italy, Milan; Cortina d'Ampezzo; Predazzo; Livigno; San Siro