2026 Winter Olympics Officially Underway in Milan-Cortina

The 2026 Winter Olympics (XXV Olympic Winter Games) officially began on February 6, 2026, in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy — the first time Italy has hosted the Winter Games since 2006 (Turin). The opening ceremony at the San Siro Stadium in Milan was a dazzling celebration of Italian culture, winter sports heritage, and unity.Opening Ceremony HighlightsTheme: “Light the Fire Within” — blending ancient Roman history, Renaissance art, and modern Italian innovation. Performers: Andrea Bocelli, Laura Pausini, Mahmood, and a surprise appearance by opera legend Luciano Pavarotti (hologram tribute). Torch Lighting: Italian ski legend Alberto Tomba lit the cauldron after a relay featuring athletes from all competing nations. Parade of Nations: 88 nations marched; notable moments included North and South Korea joint entry, Ukraine’s emotional flag-bearing, and the Refugee Olympic Team. Spectacle: Drones formed Olympic rings and snowflakes; ice dancers performed on a frozen stage in the stadium. Day 1 Medal Events & Results (Feb 6–7)Alpine Skiing – Men’s Downhill Gold: Aleksander Aamodt Kilde (Norway) Silver: Marco Odermatt (Switzerland) Bronze: Johan Clarey (France) Figure Skating – Team Event Gold: United States Silver: Japan Bronze: Canada Biathlon – Mixed Relay Gold: Norway Silver: Sweden Bronze: Germany Speed Skating – Women’s 3000m Gold: Martina Sáblíková (Czech Republic) Silver: Esmee Visser (Netherlands) Bronze: Francesca Lollobrigida (Italy) Early Medal Table Leaders (After Day 1)Norway – 2 gold, 1 silver United States – 1 gold, 1 silver Sweden – 1 silver, 1 bronze Germany – 1 bronze Czech Republic – 1 gold Key Storylines to WatchNorway aims to defend its dominant Winter Olympics status. Italy’s home advantage — huge crowds expected in Cortina for skiing events. U.S. figure skating and snowboarding teams looking strong. First-time events: Women’s ski jumping team competition and mixed team snowboard cross. At digital8hub.com, we cover Winter Olympics 2026, Milan-Cortina Games, sports results, medal updates, and more. For full medal table, daily schedules, live stream options, or athlete profiles, check our sports section.