2026 Winter Olympics in Italy Set to Begin Amidst Anticipation and Remembrance
The XXV Winter Olympic Games in Italy are set to commence on Friday, February 6, 2026, and will continue until February 22, according to Vox. The Games will be held across sites in Lombardy and Northeast Italy, beginning with the opening ceremony.
As the world prepares for the spectacle of the Winter Olympics, anticipation is building for both the athletic competitions and the traditional ceremonies. The opening ceremony will include the entrance of the Head of State of the host country and the president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), according to Time. The national anthem of Italy will be played while the country’s flag is raised. The ceremony will also feature the reveal of the Olympic rings and the Olympic motto: "Faster, Higher, StrongerTogether," Time reported. Following these time-honored traditions, the parade of delegations will commence, with athletes marching into the venue under their nations' flags.
Among the athletes competing is figure skater Maxim Naumov, who will be making his Olympic debut. Jan. 29 holds particular significance for Naumov, as it marks the anniversary of the death of his parents, Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, who were also his skating coaches, Time reported. They died in a plane crash over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., on that date in 2025, while returning home from a skating competition. According to Time, Naumov had discussed making the Olympic team with his parents, who were Olympians and world champions in pairs, since he began skating as a child.
While many eyes will be on gold-medal favorite Ilia Malinin, known for his mastery of quadruple jumps, there is expected to be significant support for Naumov, Time noted.
The Games will feature a wide range of sports, from ice hockey to newer competitions like ski mountaineering, Vox reported. Kai Laird, who leads a sport and performance psychology, stated that mindset is a huge part of what makes elite contenders elite, according to Vox.
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