Italy Concludes the 2026 Winter Olympics with a Magnificent Show in Verona

The 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Italy have officially closed with a large-scale stage performance. The Games made history by being held simultaneously in two cities — Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo — and for distributing a record number of medal sets.

The closing ceremony, titled "Beauty in Motion," took place at the Arena di Verona, a famous ancient Roman amphitheater dating back to the 1st century AD. The organizers blended opera and sports, paying special attention to environmental protection: 80% of the stage was made of wood, and the performers' costumes were sewn from recycled materials. For the first time in the history of the Games, the opening and closing ceremonies were held in different stadiums.

A record 116 sets of medals were contested across 16 disciplines. Key results of the medal standings:

• Norway became the absolute leader, breaking world records for both the number of gold medals and the total medal count.
• The USA took second place with 32 medals, securing crucial victories in both men's and women's hockey finals.
• Italy achieved its best result in the last 32 years, finishing fourth in the overall standings.
• Historical Milestone: Alpine skier Lucas Braathen won the first-ever Winter Olympic gold medal for Brazil and South America.

Russian athletes, competing under a neutral status, finished the Games with one silver medal.

The 2026 Games covered an area of 22,000 square kilometers and attracted a record number of young spectators. Ski-mountaineering was included in the program for the first time, and athletes from Benin, Guinea-Bissau, and the UAE made their debut appearances. The Italian leadership was awarded Golden Olympic Orders by the International Olympic Committee for these achievements.