The Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics officially opened on Friday with a dazzling ceremony at San Siro Stadium in Milan, alongside celebrations across the Italian Alps.
In a historic milestone, the United Arab Emirates made its Winter Olympics debut, represented by alpine skiers Alexander Astridge, 19, and Piera Hudson, 29. Hudson carried the UAE flag during the ceremony in Cortina d’Ampezzo, marking the Gulf nation’s first appearance at the senior Winter Games.
A Spectacular Opening
The Games — the most geographically spread in Olympic history — featured two Olympic cauldrons. One was lit at Milan’s iconic Arch of Peace, while the second flame was ignited in Cortina d’Ampezzo, host of the women’s alpine skiing events.
Italian skiing legends Alberto Tomba and Deborah Compagnoni lit the Milan cauldron, inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s intricate knot designs. In Cortina, former Olympic champion Sofia Goggia lit the second flame.
The ceremony paid tribute to Italy’s rich cultural heritage. Giant artistic tributes to opera legends Giuseppe Verdi, Giacomo Puccini and Gioachino Rossini towered over the celebrations. Andrea Bocelli delivered a stirring performance, while global superstar Mariah Carey surprised audiences by singing in Italian.
Italian President Sergio Mattarella formally declared the Games open, as International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry praised athletes for their courage and resilience.
UAE’s Historic Moment
The UAE delegation entered Piazza Dibona in Cortina as part of a ceremony staged simultaneously across four venues: San Siro Stadium in Milan, Livigno Snow Park, Cortina city centre, and the ski jumping arena in Predazzo. Athletes were grouped by competition schedules to minimise travel across the wide-ranging host locations.
Senior UAE officials attending included:
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Fares Mohammed Al Mutawa, Secretary General of the National Olympic Committee
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Mohammed bin Darwish, Executive Director of the National Olympic Committee
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Hamel Al Qubaisi, Vice President of the UAE Winter Sports Federation
Astridge and Hudson will compete in alpine skiing over a three-day schedule, marking a significant step in the UAE’s expanding winter sports ambitions. Previously, the country had only participated in the Winter Youth Olympic Games.
The 2026 Winter Olympics feature approximately 2,900 athletes competing for 114 medal sets across eight sports and 16 disciplines.
The UAE’s participation reflects the growing global reach of winter sports beyond traditionally snow-dominated nations.
Controversy During Ceremony
The opening ceremony was not without drama. US Vice President JD Vance appeared on the stadium screen and was met with audible boos from sections of the crowd. The presence of ICE agents accompanying the US delegation also sparked protests, although officials confirmed the agents had no operational role at the Games.
