❄️ The XXV Olympic Winter Games Are Officially Underway!

If, like us, Roman numerals make your eyes glaze over — worry not. XXV simply means this is the 25th Winter Olympics! And this year it’s being celebrated big time in Italy, with events happening across Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Livigno and Predazzo — all beautiful spots in northern Italy that are bringing the world together on snow and ice.

A Little Olympic History, Because It’s Pretty Cool:

The very first Winter Olympics kicked off back in 1924 in Chamonix, France, during the 1924 Winter Olympics — and it looked very different from what we see today. Everything was outdoors, with no giant stadiums or domes, just mountains, snow, ice, and crowds bundled up in heavy coats. Most photos were in black and white, and the whole event felt more like a small alpine winter festival than the beginning of a global mega-event. Only 16 countries took part, with about 258 athletes, many of whom were amateurs who trained on their own. There were just 9 sports and 16 events. Fast forward to now, and here we are at XXV — the 25th Winter Olympics — showing just how far these Games have come.

🎉 What Went Down at the 2026 Opening Ceremony

The Opening Ceremony blended Italian culture, music, fashion, and a strong message of unity under the theme “Armonia” (Harmony).

Here’s what made it unforgettable:

✨ Andrea Bocelli’s Performance: Italian music legend Andrea Bocelli delivered a powerful performance that closed out the ceremony with emotion and grace — a perfect nod to Italy’s rich cultural heritage.

🎤 Mariah Carey Took the Stage: Global pop icon Mariah Carey brought star power and soul, singing a medley that included an Italian classic “Volare” as well as her own song “Nothing Is Impossible.” Her performance radiated both glam and heart.

🕊️ Charlize Theron’s Inspiring Moment: Actress and UN Peace Ambassador Charlize Theron delivered a hopeful message about peace, unity, and acceptance — using powerful words attributed to Nelson Mandela about creating spaces where our differences don’t divide us. It was a highlight that reinforced the Games’ message of harmony.

🔥 Another historic first? The Olympic flame was lit in two places at once — one cauldron in Milan and one in Cortina d’Ampezzo — a symbolic tribute to unity, tradition, and innovation.

🌍 Who’s Competing?

There are 92 National Olympic Committees (countries) represented at Milano-Cortina 2026, bringing close to 2,900 athletes together to compete in sport after sport.

Here’s the alphabetical list you asked for — a global winter family:

A–G:Albania · Andorra · Argentina · Armenia · Australia · Austria · Azerbaijan · Belgium · Benin · Bolivia · Bosnia & Herzegovina · Brazil · Bulgaria · Canada · Chile · Colombia · Croatia · Cyprus · Czechia · Denmark · Ecuador · Eritrea · Estonia · Finland · France · Georgia · Germany · Great Britain · Greece · Guinea-Bissau · Haiti · Hong Kong · Hungary

H–M:Iceland · India · Iran · Ireland · Israel · Italy · Jamaica · Japan · Kazakhstan · Kenya · Kosovo · Kyrgyzstan · Lebanon · Liechtenstein · Lithuania · Luxembourg · Madagascar · Malaysia · Malta · Mexico · Moldova · Monaco · Mongolia · Montenegro

N–Z:Netherlands · New Zealand · Nigeria · North Macedonia · Norway · Pakistan · Philippines · Poland · Portugal · Puerto Rico · Romania · San Marino · Saudi Arabia · Serbia · Singapore · Slovakia · Slovenia · South Africa · South Korea · Spain · Sweden · Switzerland · Thailand · Trinidad and Tobago · Turkey · Ukraine · UAE · United States · Uruguay · Uzbekistan · Venezuela

➡️ Note: Russian and Belarusian athletes are competing only as individual neutral athletes (AIN) due to ongoing sanctions.

❄️ What You’ll See (Big Sports & Events)

Here’s the action packed into these Winter Games — winter classics that always bring drama, speed, artistry, and strategy:

🏔️ Alpine Skiing — downhill, slalom and giant slalom thrills on snowbanks.

⛸️ Figure Skating — graceful artistry and technical brilliance, on and off the ice.

🥅 Ice Hockey — fierce competition in both men’s and women’s tournaments.

🏂 Snowboarding & Freestyle Skiing — Big Air, Halfpipe, Slopestyle and more.

🎯 Biathlon — endurance meets precision with skiing and shooting.

⛸️ Speed Skating & Short Track — it’s all about velocity and tight corners.

🥌 Curling — strategic play with sweeping, spins, and precise hits.

And that’s just the start — there are dozens of medal events across 8 sports and 16 disciplines, each telling its own story of grit and glory.

🏁 Final Notes

The Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics has kicked off with heart, harmony, and spectacular athleticism — and this is only the beginning! With athletes from nearly every corner of the globe competing for gold, there’s no shortage of stories to follow and celebrate.

Want to keep up with every event, medal round, and must-watch moment? You can check out the full official schedule right here. 👉Olympic Schedule & Results | Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics

Let the games continue!✨

Image Credit: 2026 Winter Olympics Logo © Fondazione Milano-Cortina 2026 (FMC26). Source: milanocortina2026.olympics.com. Public domain.