Milan: The 2026 Winter Olympic Games commenced with an unprecedented opening ceremony held simultaneously across multiple locations in northern Italy, a necessity due to the expansive geographic spread of the events. According to Yonhap News Agency, the Milan-Cortina Winter Games, celebrating Italy's cultural heritage and promoting peace and dialogue, feature approximately 2,900 athletes from 92 countries competing over an area of about 22,000 square kilometers. This makes it the most expansive Olympic event to date, whether winter or summer. This marks the first Winter Games in Italy in two decades, named after the primary host cities, Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, which are situated roughly 400 kilometers apart. Additional venue clusters are designated for alpine skiing and snowboarding, and for ski jumping and cross-country skiing. Milan, known as Italy's financial hub, will host all skating events and the men's and women's hockey tournaments. The Milano San Siro Olympic Stadium, a venue shared by Italia n football clubs AC Milan and Inter Milan, hosted the principal ceremony under the theme of harmony. In addition to Milan, ceremonies were held in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Livigno in the Alps, and Predazzo in the province of Trento to accommodate athletes in skiing, snowboarding, curling, and sliding events. Some nations opted to appoint separate flag bearers for the Parade of Nations at different locations, allowing representation without necessitating travel to Milan. For the first time, the Winter Olympics will feature two Olympic cauldrons: one at the Arco della Pace near Milano San Siro Olympic Stadium, and another in Piazza Angelo Dibona in Cortina d'Ampezzo. The organizing committee described this widespread format as "a model that represents the future of the Winter Olympics," aimed at utilizing existing venues and leveraging local sporting traditions and expertise. The opening ceremony honored Italian opera legends Giuseppe Verdi, Giacomo Puccini, and Gioachino Rossini, alongside a performance by tenor Andrea Bocelli and a tribute to Giorgio Armani, the late fashion designer who long designed uniforms for Italian athletes. The cauldrons' design pays tribute to Leonardo da Vinci and his "Knots," symbolizing the blend of nature, human ingenuity, and technical prowess. South Korea is represented by 71 athletes competing in six sports, aiming to surpass their 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics tally of two gold medals. Figure skater Cha Jun-hwan and speed skater Park Ji-woo were the flag bearers in Milan, with South Korea entering the stadium as the 22nd nation. Following tradition, Greece, the birthplace of the modern Olympics, led the march, with Italy, as the host country, concluding the procession.