"MILAN -- Featuring tributes to da Vinci and Dante, Puccini and Pausini, Armani and Fellini, pasta and vino, and other iconic tastes of Italian culture -- plus Mariah Carey hitting all the high notes in "Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu" aka "Volare" -- an unprecedented four-site, dual-cauldron opening ceremony got the Milan Cortina Olympics officially started Friday. Allowing athletes to participate in the Parade of Nations at the mountain locales for the most spread-out Winter Games in history created what perhaps was an unintended consequence:"
"While signs bearing the names of Greece -- which always leads the procession as the birthplace of the Olympics -- Albania, Andorra, Saudi Arabia and Argentina were carried into the home of Serie A soccer titans AC Milan and Inter Milan, there were no athletes from those places around. Instead, they were participating at simultaneous festivities held at Cortina d'Ampezzo in the heart of the Dolomites, Livigno in the Alps, and Predazzo in the autonomous province of Trento. The ceremony's organizers have said they sought to convey themes of harmony and peace,"
An unprecedented four-site, dual-cauldron opening ceremony for the Milan Cortina Olympics showcased tributes to da Vinci, Dante, Puccini, Pausini, Armani, Fellini, pasta and vino, and featured Mariah Carey performing "Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu" ("Volare"). Allowing athletes to parade at mountain locales produced an effect where the first five countries announced had no competitors present at Milan's San Siro hub. Signs for Greece, Albania, Andorra, Saudi Arabia and Argentina were carried without athletes, who instead participated at simultaneous events in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Livigno and Predazzo. Organizers emphasized themes of harmony and peace; Charlize Theron and rapper Ghali delivered peace messages. The crowd's loudest cheer welcomed host Italy.
Read at ESPN.com
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