The 25th Winter Olympic Games, held in the Italian city of Milan, attracted the attention of the whole world with their grand opening ceremony. The celebrations, which began on Friday, February 6, at the legendary "San Siro" stadium in front of 80,000 spectators, turned into a celebration not only of sports, but also of high art and fashion.
Digital bridge connecting four cities
A distinctive feature of this year's Olympics is that the opening events were held simultaneously in four regions - Milan, Cortina d'Ampezzo, Predazzo, and Livino. Since the distance between the cities was hundreds of kilometers, some athletes could not reach the main square, but modern television broadcasting has united all the parades into a single system.
Opera and haute couture
The cultural part of the ceremony showcased Italy's rich heritage.
- Music: After the performances of world star Mariah Carey and rapper Gali, at the culmination of the evening, legendary tenor Andrea Bocelli amazed the stadium with a famous aria from the opera "Turandot."
- Tribute: A fashion show was held at the stadium in memory of the famous designer Giorgio Armani, who passed away in September at the age of 91. The Italian national team wore Armani clothes.
Historic record: Fire lit in two places
For the first time in the history of the Olympic Games, the torch of the competition was lit simultaneously at two points - at the "Arch of Peace" in Milan and at the Cortina d'Ampezzo. The closing ceremony of the games is planned to take place in the ancient amphitheater in Verona, which has a 2000-year history.
Neutral status and political restrictions
For Russian and Belarusian athletes, this Olympics is also being held under restrictions.
- Russia: 13 athletes are participating only under a neutral flag due to the invasion of Ukraine. Among them are figure skating stars such as Adelia Petrosyan and Petr Gumennik.
- Belarus: the smallest number in the country's history - only 7 female athletes are participating. Athletes such as Anna Guskova and Maria Shkanova will also compete in a neutral position.
The Pope's call for peace
Before the start of the competitions, Pope Leo XIV called on the countries of the world to comply with the "Olympic Pact" and stop armed conflicts. In his address, the Pontiff emphasized the need to put an end to abuse of power and violence. However, unfortunately, even during the start of the Olympics, strikes on Ukrainian territory have not ceased.
In your opinion, can sports competitions serve to establish true peace in the world, or will politics continue to prevail over sports?
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