What?
The opening ceremony of the 25th Winter Olympics.
Where?
The main ceremony is at the San Siro in Milan, which holds 75,000 spectators and is normally the home stadium of football clubs Inter and Milan. At the same time, there are ceremonies at three other Olympic venues - in Predazzo, Livigno and Cortina d'Ampezzo - reflecting the unique spread of the Games.
It will include a parade along Corso Italia with flag bearers. Alpine skier Federica Brignone and Olympic curling champion Amos Mosaner will be the flag bearers for the host nation. The USA flag bearers are Frank Del Duca and Erin Jackson.
Swedish flag bearers?
Sweden's flag bearers for the evening are alpine skier Sara Hector and mogul skier Walter Wallberg. Hector will participate in Cortina and Wallberg in Livigno.
TV broadcast?
SVT1/SVT Play at 8 p.m. with Anna Maria Fredholm as commentator.
Will Pita Taufatofua participate in the opening ceremony?
Yes, the cross-country skier who competed in the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang will be the flag bearer for Tonga. During the opening ceremony in South Korea, he was notable for appearing shirtless and oiled in the winter cold.
Is there a theme?
The theme revolves around the universal concept of “Armonia” which involves a journey through art and innovation, nature and city, and tradition and future. A tribute to Italy and its values.
Which artists are performing?
Among them are American Mariah Carey, Golden Globe winner Laura Pausini and tenor Andrea Bocelli.
What else can you expect?
Fashion icon Giorgio Armani, who died in September last year, will be honored. Leonardo da Vinci and Christopher Columbus will also be recognized.
How many cauldrons will be lit?
For the first time, two cauldrons will be lit to officially start the games. One cauldron will be located in Milan, at the Arco della Pace, and the other in Cortina d'Ampezzo at Piazza Dibona.
How does the torch relay work?
The torch relay began on November 26 in Olympia, Greece, and will arrive at San Siro on February 6. It will travel a total of 63 days, covering 12,000 kilometers, with 10,001 torchbearers. It was previously announced that Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be one of them, but it has not been confirmed when he will carry the torch. Ibrahimovic has played for both Inter and Milan and is now a sporting advisor at Milan.
"Who else," Ibrahimovic wrote on X when the news became known.
Are Russia and Belarus participating?
Athletes from Russia and Belarus will be allowed to compete under neutral flags without national anthems. Russian alpine skier Nikita Filippov, among others, has been given permission to participate.
