Winter Olympics: Opening Ceremony ends with Sofia Goggia, Alberto Tomba and Deborah Compagnoni lighting Olympic cauldrons

MILAN — A rousing Opening Ceremony that included everything from dancing musical notes to massive paint tubes to massive flying Olympic rings to Mariah Carey ended with a dramatic reveal as Italian legends Sofia Goggia, Alberto Tomba and Deborah Compagnoni lit the two torches that will burn for the length of the Winter Olympics.  

The first-of-its-kind Opening Ceremony — the “first widespread Olympic Games,” as a dramatic narrator put it — took place in four separate locations — Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Livigno and Predazzo — with simultaneous and complementary performances happening across Northern Italy. The Olympic torches are located at the Arco della Pace in Milan and  Piazza Dibona in Cortina d’Ampezzo. 

The opening quarter of the show paid tribute to Italy’s deep cultural heritage, from its history as a hub of art and music to Milan’s tradition of fashion. Two dancers rode into the stadium on giant floating rings; only after they rose a hundred feet in the air and leaped from the rings did their true purpose become clear: three other rings lit up and floated to the center of the arena, forming the five Olympic rings. 

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Throughout the night, the theme of Armonia — Italian for “harmony” — was obvious everywhere, from the blending of paints in the ceremony’s opening moments to the blending of songs Carey performed. She started singing “Nel blu, dipinto di blu,” better known as “Volare,” before segueing into her own “Nothing is Impossible.” (The harmony continued as five handlers worked in tandem to help Carey and her massive dress offstage; it took nearly a full minute for the entire entourage to slowly walk from the center of the field out of public view.) 

Television moved seamlessly between the venues, though during the parade of nations in San Siro Stadium — home of soccer powers AC Milan and Inter Milan — it was obvious that the split format had its drawbacks. Many nations don’t have any representation at the ice events in Milan, so they were represented by only a single sign bearer walking across the spiral San Siro stage as a video screen showed images of the athletes parading in the mountain regions. 

One nice touch for the athletes: Italian Olympic organizers provided chairs at one end of the field for the athletes to sit in and rest while the rest of their fellow Olympians marched in. Given that previous Olympics had forced athletes to stay on their feet for hours — not an ideal preparation for the most important athletic event of their lives — the seats were surely welcome.  

Some events at the Winter Olympics have already begun, but the first medals will be draped around the necks of athletes starting Saturday. This year’s event promises to be a significant reset from the COVID-era Winter Games of Beijing 2022, with many more fans, family members, and carbs here and ready for the festivities.