By Clara Stern
The Milan-Cortina Winter Olympic Games kicked off on Friday the 6th with the traditional Opening Ceremony, a chance for countries to show off their cultural, artistic, and athletic achievements.
Mariah Carey opened the show by singing the Italian classic “Nel Blu, Dipinto Di Blu” in a custom made gown from Fausto Puglisi and draped in $15 million dollars worth of jewelry
The Italians showcased their culture by dressing up in colorful costumes as a tribute to the Renaissance. Models walked a runway in the Italian flag colors — red, white, and green— as a tribute to the late Giorgio Armani, a famous fashion designer.
Other dance performances included a nod to Italy’s own artistic history where dancers were mainly dressed in white, and another where dancers danced their way through all the years of the Olympics, changing their outfits to match the decade.
Junior Gabriela Vukelj said, “It’s so interesting to see all the other cultures displayed at this massive event.”
Additionally, many countries partnered with clothing brands for a unified, clean look. USA partnered with Ralph Lauren for the opening ceremony. They were dressed in USA sweaters, snowy duffel coats, tailored white wool pants, and knit hats, mittens, and boots.
Junior Riya Srivastava said, “I thought the Ralph Lauren kits were super cute and patriotic.”
The host country, Italy, marched out in Armani bomber jackets covered with “Italia” print. The Italian designer passed away in September, 2025. Great Britain wore a wool-blended cream knit jacket and Great Britain scarves and hats.
Canada paired with Lululemon and wore red quilted puffer coats, pants, and caps. Some people have critiqued the outfits, stating they look like a sleeping bag. The Japanese outfits were designed by the country’s own brand, ASICS. They were dressed in red pinstripe puffer jackets and black pants.
In Milan, the Olympic torch was lit by famous alpine skiers Alberto Tomba and Deborah Compagnoni, while in Cortina d’Ampezzo it was lit by Sofia Goggia, also an alpine skier.
During the final moments of the ceremony, Andrea Bocelli performed a rendition of “Nessun Dorma”.
The Olympic games are scheduled to run from February 6th to February 22nd.
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