MILAN — Fireworks, a dancing stovetop espresso maker and Mariah Carey singing in Italian set the tone for the Winter Olympics opening ceremony at San Siro Stadium.
The ceremony was staged across multiple locations — Milan as the main host plus simultaneous celebrations in Livigno, Predazzo and Cortina d’Ampezzo, which for the first time lit a second Olympic cauldron. NPR reporters in the stands watched three and a half hours of spectacle: about 92 countries, roughly 1,400 costumes and plenty of moments that didn’t always make the broadcast.
1) Behind-the-scenes glimpses
Watching from the crowd meant seeing backstage choreography — camera rigs gliding overhead, volunteers hustling props, and performers waiting in the wings between acts. Volunteers helped carry the hem of Mariah Carey’s gown, rolled prop carts and even danced along when the DJ was playing, whether or not the cameras were on them.
2) You still needed the screens
Even inside the stadium there were six large screens — and for good reason. Portions of the Parade of Nations and many pre-taped segments took place in other venues, so viewers had to watch those feeds to catch backflips and tough-guy poses from teams arriving in Cortina and Livigno. The screens also provided names and close-ups that were hard to see from the seats.
3) It was cold
San Siro’s partially open roof made the three-hour show feel much colder than the forecasted low 40s. Athletes spent long stretches sitting on plastic seats in full parkas, hats and gloves, more like a graduation procession than a red carpet. Press and spectators were bundled up too.
4) Big Italian imagery
The show leaned heavily into Italian culture and design: foam-headed opera giants (Rossini, Verdi and Puccini), larger-than-life Roman busts, Cupid and Psyche, and models walking a runway clad in Italian-flag colors in a nod to Giorgio Armani. The Mona Lisa, chefs and costumed representations of landmarks like the Colosseum and Brunelleschi’s dome popped up in vivid color.
5) Global stars, local moments
Andrea Bocelli’s powerful tenor helped usher the Olympic torch into the arena, and Laura Pausini sang the Italian national anthem. Mariah Carey — whose heritage is Irish, Black, Venezuelan and American — made a brief but memorable appearance: sequins and fur, singing in Italian, and a high note that drew big cheers.
6) Politics stayed mostly on the edge
Despite concerns about protests or geopolitical disruptions, political messages were mostly indirect. The crowd applauded Team USA but booed when U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance appeared on screen; there were warm ovations for Ukraine and boos for Israel. Speeches focused on unity and the ideals of sport without naming conflicts explicitly.
7) Athletes brought energy
Compared with the subdued Beijing Games, athletes in Milan were visibly thrilled to be performing before a live audience. Highlights included a Brazilian athlete’s backflip in the snow, Austria’s flagbearer carried on a teammate’s shoulders, patterned outfits from Czechia, and a coordinated dance from Greece. The women leading each delegation — clad in shiny silver puffer-coat gowns and oversized sunglasses — added a memorable, stylish flourish.
8) Crowd favorites
Certain moments landed especially well in the stadium: fireworks exploding from the Olympic rings, Bocelli’s sustained notes, and the home-team entrance. Those scenes produced some of the loudest, most sustained cheers of the night and were easy to spot even from the higher seats.
Overall, the opening ceremony mixed pageantry and national pride with a playful nod to Italian culture, and it left the in-person audience with plenty to talk about long after the fireworks faded.