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Milano officially opened on Friday 6 February 2026 withthe tradition Olympic Games Opening Ceremony seen by three billion people around the world. More than 35,000 professionals were involved on the night with the show featuring 12 samba schools and over 5,500 costumes.
What do you get when you mix 92 National Olympic, Mariah Carey, giant bobbleheads, Italian models, time travel, and the best winter athletes in the world?
Friday, 6 February welcomed the world with a spectacle rich in art, history, and unmistakable Italian flair.
Opening Ceremony Milano-Cortina
Dancers to the motto "Armonia"
credits:Michael Kappeler/picture alliance via Getty
Inside the historic Milano San Siro Olympic Stadium, the scene shone with space suits, Italian opera, Olympic rings, and fireworks, a joyful recipe that set the tone for the weeks ahead.
Opening Ceremony Milano-Cortina
Cupid and Psyche played by dancers Claudio Coviello and Antonella Albano
credits: Elsa/Getty
Beginning that blossomed into a tribute to Italy itself. From opera and art to fashion, music and dance, the Milano Cortina Opening Ceremony unfolded as a vibrant celebration of culture. An explosion of colour, romance and theatrical flair that felt unmistakably Italian.
For the first time in the history of the Winter Games, the Opening Ceremony unfolded across two cities, Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, linked in real time to celebrate the bond between urban creativity and mountain spirit.
From 6 to 22 February around 2.900 athletes from over 90 National Olympic Committees compete in 116 events on ice and snow in eight sports and 16 disciplines.
With seven venues spread across northern Italy, the ceremony promised a Games built on connection, imagination, and creativity.
Opening Ceremony Milano-Cortina
credits: Piero Cruciatti/AFP/Getty
The spectacle drifted into a dreamlike Fantasia chapter. The Italian actor Matilda De Angelis, wielding an enormous conductor’s baton, guided swirling dancers across San Siro, flanked by the larger-than-life figures of Italy’s operatic greats – Giuseppe Verdi,Giacomo Puccini, and Gioachino Rossini – brought to life with towering papier-mache bobble heads. Performers in radiant hues paraded in a joyous passeggiata, evoking the everyday elegance of an Italian stroll.
Italian model Vittoria Cerettiwalks the Italian flag down the stage.
Some information :
The first edition of the modern Olympic Games was staged in Athens, Greece, in 1896, while the first winter edition was held in Chamonix, France, in 1924.
Since 1994, the Olympic Games have alternated between a summer and winter edition every two years within the four-year period of each Olympiad.
It marks the fourth time Italy has hosted the Olympics, following the 1956 Winter Games (Cortina), 1960 Summer Games (Rome), and 2006 Winter Games (Turin).
Charlize Theron
Sarah Stier/Getty
Opening Ceremony Milano-Cortina
UN Peace Ambassador Charlize Theron gives a speech inspired by South African leader Nelson Mandela.
"Peace is not just the absence of conflict," the actress said. "Peace is the creation of an environment where all can flourish, regardless of race, colour, creed, religion, gender, class, caste or any other social markers of difference.”
The Italian tricolour flag arrived, carried by a group of models dressed in designs by the late Giorgio Armani, in a moving homage. The national anthem was then sung simultaneously in two cities, in Milano by Laura Pausini and in Cortina d’Ampezzo by a mountain choir, as the flag rose above both stages.
Performers during the Opening Ceremony
credits: Fabrizio Carabelli/PA Images via Getty
Performers created a spectacle in rainbow-colored ensembles. Wow !
For the first time in the history of the Winter Games, the Opening Ceremony unfolded across two cities, Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, linked in real time to celebrate the bond between urban creativity and mountain spirit.
The 2026 Olympic Games will span over 22,000 square kilometers (nearly 8,500 square miles) across northern Italy, making it the most widely distributed Winter Games in history. The events will range from big cities like Milan to mountainous towns like Cortina d’Ampezzo, Bormio, Livigno and Anterselva.
The official mascots of the 2026 Games are the brothers Tina and Milo, animated stoats native to the Alpine region. Tina represents the mountainous, snowy region of Cortina d’Ampezzo, while Milo represents the big-city life of Milan.
Their names are inspired by the host cities: Tina from Cortina d’Ampezzo andMilofrom Milano.
Skimo newest Winter Olympics sport
credits: (Valerio Pennicino / Getty Images)
‘Skimo’ is the newest Winter Olympics sport :
Ski mountaineering (aka “skimo”) is making its debut at the Winter Games this year. combining relentless uphill climbing with technical downhill descents.
Essentially, athletes have to ascend the course uphill using climbing skins on their skis. Then they have to transition to bootpacking, which involves carrying skis on their packs, while still climbing uphill in their ski boots. Finally, the competitors have to race downhill on skis.
Google Doodles:
Google Doodles : The Doodle Winter Sports 2026 Begin! launched
Google Doodle is launched various animated doodles of sports since the start of Milano-Cortina Games 2026 inspired on the different games represented on this WOG2026.
Teachers can ask the students to follow every day and recognize the categories.
Portugal, my country, competed in the Games for the first time in Stockholm 1912 and has been present in every edition since. Over 23 editions, the country has won an identical number of medals, of which four are gold (all in athletics), eight silver and 11 bronze.
Education
Every four years, the Olympic Games create worldwide excitement as athletes from across the globe compete for a prestigious place on the podium. With stories of hard-work, determination, sacrifice, Olympians are great role models for students of any age in the world to show that practice, practice, practice is the way to achieve their goals.
New technologies and digital innovation have enabled more sports fans than ever to watch, follow and engage with the Olympic Games Milano - Cortina. Since the start of the Games, the Olympic digital platforms have had record breaking traffic a daily basis.
From sports to geography, history, art and languages, I picked some of the best Olympic-themed teaching resources to help teachers encourage both individual achievement and teamwork, while inspiring students to strive for gold in the classroom. Wow! It will be amazing.
I am sure that a lot of students will want to talk about it. Italian students are the luckiest because some of them are at the Olympic stadium with their parents watching live or participating as volunteers.
But there will be a big number all over the world that are watching live on television or on the Internet day by day, following their favorite athletes and sports. And the most curious will know a lot about OG sharing ideas in-person lessons or distance learning.
Teachers are watching Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympic Games as well, and they are wondering how they might include the WOG into the curriculum.
As I wrote, I will share with educators some subjects that might interest them for now and/or next school season.Milano-Cortina 2026 is a very good subject. Values in sport are so important as well in our days.
You will find on this post some resources that teachers can include into their lesson plans by Zoom or in-person.
credits: unknown
via Google Images Archive
Ideas & Resources for Teachers:
Here are couple ofideas and resourcesto evaluate and include into your school curriculum about Milano - Cortina 2026.
Let's talk about some curricula:
Sciences/Geography; History/ Art: The Olympic Flame & Italy as a country.
Lindsay Vonn, who had to be airlifted to hospital for evaluation, wrote on Instagram "This is a very difficult outcome one week before the Olympics... but if there's one thing I know how to do, it's a comeback. Vonn added: "My Olympic dream is not over."
Both Lindsey Vonnand the world knew she was attempting a fairytale previously unthinkable.
Years on from a titanium knee replacement, andnine days after another ACL rupture, the 41-year-old made herOlympic Winter Games return in the women’sdownhill this Sunday.
Civics & cross-curricular project : Values
"Sport’s role in reducing conflict can be traced back to the creation of the Olympic Games."
Of course, teachers can't lose this splendid event to talk about values and beliefs: bravery,confidence,courage, self-estime, effort, mental health, work, solidarity, fellowship, mutual support.
Honesty, teamwork, respect, self-belief, passion and determination the six values to achieve personal excellence.
The Milano Cortina 2026 community for environmental and social sustainability
For the planet, the communities and future generations. The commitment of Milano Cortina 2026 is to protect, cultivate and promote the natural beauty of the places that will host the Games.
A beauty made of our landscapes, our history, our cities. But not only that. The goal is also to contribute to social transformation, through culture and new generations.
Milano Cortina 2026 intends to adopt a sustainability and legacy approach that is holistic, concrete and progressive, involving all.
credits: unknown
via Google Images Archive
Italian students are the luckiest because some of them are at the Olympic stadium with their parents watching live or participating as volunteers.
The Winter Olympics came to Italy, and Milano Cortina 2026 is the perfect conversation topic for our students!
From sports and geography to culture and traditions, the Olympics offer endless opportunities to practice Italian, if students studdy Italian as Foreign language share opinions, learn new vocabulary, and connect with contemporary Italy.
In class, teachers turn real-life events into engaging conversations, because learning a language is also about understanding the world around us.
By the way, what sport are you most excited to watch?
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