The 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics officially commenced Friday evening in Milan, Italy, with an opening ceremony that paid homage to Italian culture and cinema, according to NPR News. Athletes representing over 90 countries marched into the San Siro stadium, filled with thousands of spectators. The ceremony, which included performances by Italian ballet dancers, was a "witty, concise tribute to La Dolce Vita," according to a Time article, referencing the classic Italian film.
The opening ceremony, which was "painfully long, inevitably uneven, excessively dance-obsessed but also somehow lovable," according to Time, featured a figure in an evening gown, trailed by paparazzi. The performance highlighted Italian music, art, and culture.
While the Olympics kicked off in Italy, other cultural events were also taking place. The 12th annual Chicago Botanic Garden Orchid Show opened Friday, bringing vivid color to the winter landscape, as reported by Phys.org. Inside, the air was warm, and lights illuminated more than 10,000 vividly colored orchids.
In other news, the Society of Composers and Lyricists (SCL) Awards took place, with Ludwig Göransson and EJAE leading the winners, according to Variety. Göransson won two SCL Awards for his "Sinners" score and the original song "I Lied to You," co-written with Raphael Saadiq.
Also, the film "Variations on a Theme" won at the Rotterdam Film Festival, according to Variety. The film is a portrait of a Northern Cape community.
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