Milan Cortina celebrates blue legends: Alberto Tomba, Deborah Compagnoni and Sofia Goggia light the braziers

Sofia Goggia in Cortina, Alberto Tomba and Deborah Compagnoni in Milan: the three blue legends of Alpine skiing had the honor of receiving, last, the Olympic flashlights designated to light the braziers placed in the two venues of the 25th Winter Games. The ceremony ended around 11:30 p.m. and, as per tradition, the lighting of the braziers was scheduled at the conclusion of a long evening marked by the presence of many guests, even those far from the world of sports.

After the official opening by President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella, the Milan Cortina 2026 opening ceremony experienced the symbolic moment of the arrival of the Olympic torches while Andrea Bocelli intoned Nessun Dorma: the Olympic flame passed into the hands of two icons of Italian soccer, Giuseppe Bergomi and Franco Baresi, who then handed it over to Anna Danesi, captain of the national volleyball team gold at Paris 2024, along with Paola Egonu and Carlotta Cambi, protagonists of the winning cycle that culminated in the 2025 World Cup.

Francesco Lucivero

The stage was then taken by Ghali, who recited verses from Gianni Rodari’s Reminder in Italian, French and English, turning the ceremony into a moment of reflection on the rejection of war. Immediately following came one of the most anticipated passages: the entrance of the Olympic flag, carried by prominent figures from sports and civil society, including Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade and Kenyan marathon runner Eliud Kipchoge. After the execution of the Olympic anthem, it was time for the athletes to take the oath, read by curling champion Stefania Constantini and veteran luge player Dominik Fischnaller.

The flame continued its journey in the hands of other great champions: in Milan it was received by Enrico Fabris, gold medalist in speed skating in Turin 2006, while in Cortina Gustav Thöni passed it to Sofia Goggia, Olympic champion in 2018. It was Goggia herself who was the last torchbearer in the Dolomite city, while in Milan the honor fell to Alberto Tomba and Deborah Compagnoni.

The choice of the protagonists was warmly welcomed by the public and insiders: no surprises compared to the eve expectations, but the applause was thunderous from the spectators present. The braziers were therefore lit by three skiing legends, for an’Olympics that speaks to the roots of Italian winter sports.