“Take the crown, shut it down, ‘bout to steal the show,” a lyric from Charli XCX’s hit song, “Trophy” is in the mind of every athlete, because in the end, they’re all thinking the same thing, “I want that trophy.”
To mark the start of the 2026 Winter Olympics, an opening ceremony was held in Milan, Italy, featuring performances by Mariah Carey and Andrea Bocelli, followed by a Parade of Nations and the lighting of twin Olympic cauldrons.
From February 6th to February 22nd, the Winter Olympics are taking place in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, where athletes from across the globe compete in different sports to win a medal and represent their country and their skills.
Around 2,900 athletes from over 90 countries compete in 116 events spanning cross-country skiing to hockey over 16 days. With ski mountaineering starting the Winter Olympics competitions.
“Watching the Winter Olympics is a blend of witnessing peak human athletic, I was watching at home cheering on for my favorite team, the USA, and my favorite athlete,” according to sophomore, Joshua Vasquez.
Milano-Cortina 2026 website flooded with Olympic Winter watchers, who wanted to buy a ticket to see their country competing in the Winter Olympics in person.
Athletes from Norway, Italy, and the United States are on the leaderboard for the most medals won in the events.
“I love the Olympics whether it's the Winter or Summer games. I prefer the summer, but this year's winter Olympics have been fantastic. I am always inspired by these athletes who only get every 4 years to show the world what they are capable of doing,” expressed by Castaic High School teacher, David Chae.
The athlete most talked about is Alysa Liu, celebrated as a trailblazing American figure skater, who recently became the first U.S. woman in 24 years to win Olympic gold at the 2026 Milano Cortina Games.
Liu’s return to the competition after retiring in 2022 has been receiving a lot of praise for courage and reclaiming joy in competitive sports.
“Having the US Women's Hockey team squeak out a win against Canada and watching Alysa Liu win the gold have been my favorite moments,” also shared by David Chae.
As of February 18, the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics are in their final phase with only 43 medal events remaining to be decided before the closing ceremony.
“The highlight of the season was witnessing Alysa Liu’s incredible performance. Seeing her rediscover her love for the sport and go on to win gold was such a powerful moment. Even more than the medal, though, you could see the genuine joy and passion in her final skate,” stated another Castaic High School teacher, Christy Robert.
The 2026 Winter Olympics closing ceremony consists of the celebration of Italian culture, art, and music, featuring performances by artists such as DJ Gabry Ponte. Also, the celebration of the athlete's achievements, and lastly the handover ceremony.
The Winter Olympic flag handover is a symbolic ceremony during the closing ceremony where the International Olympic Committee accepts the flag from the current host city’s mayor and passes it to the next host city’s mayor. This signifies the transition to the next edition of the Winter Olympics.
Officially declaring the end of the 2026 Winter Olympics, two cauldrons located in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo are extinguished. The Milano cauldron sits at the Arco della Pace, while the Cortina cauldron is located in Piazza Angelo Dibona.
The Winter Olympics fosters international unity, showcasing athletic talent in snow and ice sports, and honoring the hosting city. Olympic watchers are already planning to buy tickets or enroll in a lottery to attend the LA ‘28 Olympics, which is being held in Los Angeles.
