Overview
- The ceremony unfolded simultaneously at San Siro in Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Livigno and Predazzo under a multi‑site ‘diffusa’ format curated by Marco Balich.
- Reviews from major outlets, including the New York Times, the Guardian and China Daily, lauded a visually striking, elegant celebration of Italian culture.
- The narrative theme of ‘Armonia’ aimed to unite places and values, yet several publications noted a disconnect with current geopolitical tensions.
- Critics across multiple countries said the distributed athletes’ parade diluted the traditional march’s crescendo, with Canada’s La Presse urging the format be abandoned.
- Notable set pieces included a torch relay featuring tenor Andrea Bocelli and the lighting of two Olympic braziers in Milan and Cortina, while some reports noted boos for the Israeli delegation and U.S. Vice President J. D. Vance.