Bombardino, the Alps, and the return of legends. The 2026 Winter Olympics officially kicked off on February 6 in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo. These are the most decentralized Games in history, covering over 22,000 square kilometers. What can we expect from the next two weeks?
Contents:
Opening Ceremony: Show at San Siro
For the first time in Winter Games history, the opening ceremony took place in a football stadium. The legendary "Giuseppe Meazza" (San Siro) hosted 75,000 spectators. Giorgio Armani's "Ice and Fire" show combined fashion, opera, and cyberpunk neon.
The final chord: The Olympic flame was lit by skier Alberto Tomba, descending from the stadium roof on a wire.
Main Event: NHL is Back!
After a 12-year break, the best hockey players on the planet are back at the Olympics. This is the tournament of the generation.
Alessandro Bianchi's Take
"This will be the 'Tournament of the Century'. Canada with McDavid and Bedard versus USA with Matthews. And don't write off Sweden. Tickets for the hockey final are reselling for €5,000."Geography of the Games
The Games take place in three clusters separated by hundreds of kilometers:
- Milan: Hockey, Figure Skating, Short Track. (Ice Arenas).
- Cortina d'Ampezzo: Alpine Skiing, Curling, Bobsleigh. (Historic Center).
- Val di Fiemme / Anterselva: Biathlon, Cross-country Skiing, Ski Jumping.
The Dark Side: Snow and Money
Olympics 2026 has become the most expensive for Italy. The budget is exceeded by 40%. Environmentalists are protesting against the construction of a new bobsleigh track in Cortina, for which 500-year-old larches were cut down. Additionally, 90% of the snow on the slopes is artificial, as February turned out to be anomalously warm (+8°C).
Games Budget Growth (€ bn)
Infrastructure Cost (2019 vs 2026)
Medal Forecast
| Country | Gold 🥇 | Total 🏅 |
|---|---|---|
| 🇳🇴 Norway | 18 | 35 |
| 🇺🇸 USA | 12 | 28 |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | 11 | 25 |
| 🇮🇹 Italy (Hosts) | 8 | 19 |
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Where to watch?
Official broadcaster — Eurosport / Discovery+. USA — NBC.
Is Russia participating?
Russian athletes are competing as Neutral Athletes (AIN) without flag or anthem, only in individual sports.
