VERONA, Italy — The Milan Cortina Winter Olympics concluded Sunday with a vibrant closing ceremony held in the ancient Verona Arena, marking the end of 17 days of competition and a celebration of athletic achievement. The Games, notable for their geographically dispersed venues spanning the Italian Alps and beyond, officially passed the Olympic torch to France, the host of the 2030 Winter Games.
International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry declared the Games closed, praising the organizers for delivering “a novel kind of winter Games” and setting “a new, very high standard for the future.” The ceremony served as a farewell to the athletes and a handover of responsibility, symbolized by the lowering of the Italian flag and the raising of the French flag. The 2030 Winter Games in France are planned to follow a similar decentralized model, with events taking place in the Alps and Nice, on the Mediterranean Sea, and potentially in Italy or the Netherlands for speedskating competitions.
Italy celebrated a record-breaking performance at the Milan Cortina Games, securing a total of 30 medals – 10 gold, six silver, and 14 bronze. This surpassed their previous best Winter Olympic tally of 20 medals achieved at the 1994 Lillehammer Games. Giovanni Malagò, the president of the Milan Cortina Foundation, lauded the Italian athletes, stating, “Your outstanding performance united Italians everywhere and played a fundamental role in the success of the games.”
A Ceremony Steeped in Italian Culture
The closing ceremony was a lavish display of Italian artistry, blending opera, music, and dance. The 2½-hour spectacle opened with a tribute to Italian lyric opera, featuring characters from operas like “Madama Butterfly” and “Aida” emerging from within the Verona Arena. Musicians performed “Libiamo ne’ lieti calici” from Verdi’s “La Traviata,” acknowledging the Arena’s rich history as a summer opera venue. The scene unfolded with opera characters interacting with athletes who were serving as flag-bearers for their respective countries, many capturing the moment on their phones.
The ceremony likewise featured a breathtaking aerial performance by internationally acclaimed ballet dancer Roberto Bolle, who danced above a stage designed to resemble the Venetian lagoon. Italian singer Joan Thiele provided the musical accompaniment. The Olympic flame, encased in a Venetian glass vessel, was carried into the Arena by Italian gold medalists from the 1994 Lillehammer Games, culminating in its illumination at the center of the stage.
A Games Spanning Vast Terrain
The Milan Cortina Games were distinguished by their expansive geographical footprint, covering 22,000 square kilometers (approximately 8,500 square miles). Events were held across a diverse range of locations, from ice sports in Milan to biathlon in Anterselva, near the Austrian border, and snowboarding and downhill skiing in Valtellina, bordering Switzerland. Cross-country skiing took place in the Val di Fiemme, north of Verona, while Cortina d’Ampezzo hosted women’s downhill, curling, and sliding sports. A total of 116 medal events were contested across eight sports and 16 disciplines, including the inaugural ski mountaineering competition.
Looking Ahead to the Paralympics and Beyond
The extinguishing of the Olympic flames in Milan and Cortina, viewed via video link in Verona, marked the official end of the Winter Games. However, the spirit of competition will continue as Verona prepares to host the opening ceremony of the Milan Cortina Paralympics on March 6, with the Games running through March 15. The focus now shifts to France as preparations begin for the 2030 Winter Olympics, promising another chapter in the history of the Games.
This year’s games were a testament to Italy’s ability to host a large-scale international event, despite the logistical challenges presented by the dispersed venues. The success of the Milan Cortina Games sets a high bar for future hosts, and the world now looks to France to build upon this momentum.
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