Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony AS IT HAPPENED: Aussie flag bearers shine as Team Australia marches in

That concludes Wide World of Sports' LIVE coverage of the Milano Cortina 2026 Opening Ceremony.

Let the games begin!

Following the formalities, the competition shifts into high gear with a blockbuster Saturday featuring the first five gold medals of the Games.

We'll be back when the action officially begins on Saturday evening (AEDT).

Fresh off their flag-bearing duties in Livigno, Jakara Anthony and Matt Graham will be among the first in the spotlight as the moguls competition gets underway with qualifying rounds.

It was colourful, it was sometimes odd, it was star-studded, and it was long – but the Milano Cortina 2026 Opening Ceremony was spectacular.

The first dual hosting of the Winter Games, the main ceremony took place in Milan's San Siro stadium, while another took place simultaneously in Cortina. Smaller ceremonies also took place in Livigno and Predazzo.

The three-and-a-half-hour ceremony finished with the lighting of two cauldrons, at the Milano Arco della Pace (Arch of Peace) and at Cortina's Piazza Dibona.

CONTINUE READING HERE.

A total of 41 Australian athletes marched in the Opening Ceremony, including 27 based in the Aussie hub in Livigno.

The air was thick with anticipation and excitement before they were presented, with the Australians clearly soaking up every second of the atmosphere.

Flag bearers Jakara Anthony and Matt Graham were buzzing ahead of the march and did a fantastic job leading the team.

Speaking to Nine moments after stepping off the 'white carpet', Anthony and Graham admitted they were mostly relieved the moment went off without a hitch.

"It was pretty cool. We were just saying, no trips, no flag hitting the ground, so we think it was a success," Anthony said.

Graham added: "We kept our flag waving, which was the main thing. Got a couple of waves in.

"I'm sure we were grinning ear to ear. So it was special."

Reflecting on the magnitude of the moment, Anthony noted it was a "big honour" to lead out such an "epic team".

The celebrations were short-lived for many of the athletes as their focus quickly shifted back to competition.

Most of the team headed straight home, hoping to catch the end of the ceremony on TV from the comfort of the Team Australia hotels.

The early night is a necessity for some, including Anthony, who is back in action tomorrow morning (local time) for mogul practice.

That concludes the Milano Cortina 2026 Opening Ceremony, and what a show it was!

From the stadium spectacle of San Siro to the snow-capped peaks of the Dolomites, Italy has officially welcomed the world with an unforgettable celebration of culture, history, and sport.

With the dual cauldrons now glowing in Milan and Cortina, the Games are now officially open.

The next 16 days will see nearly 3,000 athletes compete for 116 gold medals across the most widespread Winter Games in history.

To our Australian athletes who have worked so hard for this moment: enjoy every second. We'll be watching every jump, turn, and finish line right along with you.

The two cauldrons are now preparing to be lit in perfect synchronicity.

From San Siro Stadium, the Olympic flame has been carried to the Arco della Pace (Arch of Peace), three kilometres away, which is home to Milan's primary cauldron. But 400 kilometres away in the heart of the Dolomites, a second cauldron is waiting in Piazza Dibona.

In a symbolic bridge between generations, Italian legends Deborah Compagnoni and Alberto Tomba have the honor of lighting the cauldron in Milan, while alpine star Sofia Goggia lights the flame in Cortina.

Goggia will compete at these Games — what a way to kick-off her campaign.

Wowee, the Olympic flame has arrived!

In a spine-tingling build-up, Andrea Bocelli serenades San Siro with a soaring rendition of "Nessun Dorma".

As the legendary tenor hits those iconic final notes of "Vincerò!", the Olympic torch enters the stadium for the final steps of its 63-day journey.

It's an emotional climax to an odyssey that saw the flame travel 12,000 kilometres through every one of Italy's 110 provinces.

We've now reached the formal part of the ceremony.

Giovanni Malago, president of the Milano Cortina 2026 organising committee, and Kirsty Coventry, the newly elected president of the International Olympic Committee, have taken the stage at the San Siro to address the world.

Following their remarks, Italian president Sergio Mattarella steps forward to deliver the historic declaration, officially opening the Games.

With those words — and to the roar of 60,000 fans — the 2026 Winter Olympics are officially underway!

In another captivating segment titled "Time Travel", Italian actress Sabrina Impacciatore — star of The White Lotus season two — goes on a journey through 100 years of Winter Olympic history, using the official posters from every Games since Chamonix 1924 as her guide.

The host nation has arrived, and the atmosphere is electric!

Italy has named four flag bearers to lead their 196-athlete delegation in Milan and Cortina.

Leading the way at the San Siro in Milan are short-track legend Arianna Fontana — the most decorated Italian Winter Olympian in history — and cross-country skiing star Federico Pellegrino.

Meanwhile, at the mountain ceremony in Cortina, the flag is being carried by Alpine skiing champion Federica Brignone and curling gold medallist Amos Mosaner.

"Listen to that crowd go crazy," Ally Langdon said on Nine's coverage.

That concludes the Parade of Nations. The energy across Italy's four ceremony hubs is reaching a fever pitch.

Mongolia has arrived, and don't they look toasty!

Their ceremonial look draws direct inspiration from the attire of the Great Mongol Empire (13th–15th centuries) and is crafted by the Mongolian label Goyol Cashmere.

As the athletes march, Nine's commentary team notes the uniform envy that is often experienced at every Opening Ceremony.

While swapping kits is a time-honoured Olympic tradition at the Closing Ceremony, the Mongolian athletes might be holding onto their cashmere masterpieces a little more tightly.