"The Olympics are back, wearing their warm Winter Games gear. Although there were will be a couple of weeks of sports competitions to come, none are possible without an opening ceremony, a combination of solemn official protocol with a fantastic representation of the host country's culture and character, evoking the Olympic spirit itself. There are few opportunities to mount an entertainment of this scale - not even a Super Bowl halftime show can compare."
"This year we are in Italy, for the bi-metropolitan Milan-Cortina games, held in the city's San Siro Stadium and in the north where the mountains are. The ceremonies, too, were split geographically, with Olympic cauldrons in both cities, with the athletes' parade further shared with Livigno and Predazzo, national delegations divided according to where their events would be held. The main business took place in the arena."
The opening ceremony blended solemn official protocol with lavish cultural spectacle rooted in Italian aesthetics. Events were split between Milan and Cortina, with cauldrons and athlete processions shared across multiple towns. Marco Balich directed an elegant yet over-the-top show that moved from white balletic gestures to black-and-white cinematic nods and then to a riot of color. Giant floating tubes released streams of fabric; performers included bobbleheaded opera composers, gladiators, moka pots and runway models in Armani representing the national flag. A statuesque Mariah Carey performed in white and silver, singing the Italian standard "Nel blu, dipinto di blu."
Read at Los Angeles Times
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