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Hosts Claim Historic Medal Haul (Image Credits: Unsplash)
Verona, Italy – The ancient Arena di Verona hosted a vibrant closing ceremony that marked the end of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games on February 22, blending Italian cultural splendor with athletic triumph.
Hosts Claim Historic Medal Haul
Italy secured 30 medals, including 10 golds, to finish fourth overall and eclipse its previous national best of 20 from the 1994 Lillehammer Games.[1][2] This performance crowned the home nation amid fierce international competition. Norway led the standings with 41 medals, followed by the United States with 33.[3]
Speed skater Francesca Lollobrigida highlighted Italy’s successes by setting an Olympic record in the women’s 3000m event.[4] The country’s strong showing across disciplines underscored the passion of its athletes on familiar terrain. Organizers celebrated these achievements as the final victory ceremonies unfolded just before the ceremony’s main events.
‘Beauty in Action’ Captivates Verona Arena
The theme “Beauty in Action” infused the evening with Italy’s operatic heritage, acrobatics, and contemporary music, drawing around 2,000 performers into the UNESCO-listed Roman amphitheater.[5] Artists such as Achille Lauro, Gabry Ponte, Joan Thiele, and Jun Ichikawa, portraying Madama Butterfly, energized the crowd and athletes alike. The parade of nations followed the Italian flag and anthem, evoking traditions since Melbourne 1956.
DJs and dancers turned the arena into a festive exodus for competitors, who danced amid tributes to Italian music and movement. No fireworks lit the sky to protect local wildlife; instead, a light show accompanied the simultaneous extinguishing of cauldrons in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo. This multi-venue finale reflected the Games’ innovative spread across 22,000 square kilometers.[2]
Innovations and Records Reshape Winter Sports
Milano Cortina introduced ski mountaineering as a full medal sport and added eight new events, including women’s doubles luge and mixed skeleton.[4] Athletes set nine Olympic records and one world mark, with highlights like Xandra Velzeboer’s 41.399 in short track women’s 500m. Nearly 2,900 competitors from over 90 nations contested 116 events across 19 days.
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Norway | 18 | 12 | 11 | 41 |
| 2 | USA | 12 | 12 | 9 | 33 |
| 3 | Netherlands | 10 | 7 | 3 | 20 |
| 4 | Italy | 10 | 6 | 14 | 30 |
| 5 | Germany | 8 | 10 | 8 | 26 |
Sustainability efforts stood out: 85% of venues were existing or temporary, powered almost entirely by renewables, with 24,000 items reused from Paris 2024. Organizers diverted 70% of waste and reduced car usage by 20% from Torino 2006 levels.
Olympic Flame Passes to French Alps
IOC President Kirsty Coventry declared the Games closed, praising hosts: “You delivered a new kind of Winter Games and you set a new, very high standard for the future.”[2] She thanked Italy for its electric atmosphere and volunteers’ energy. Mayors of Milan and Cortina handed the flag to Coventry, who passed it to French Alps 2030 representatives amid a video preview titled “A New Dawn.”
Giovanni Malagò, Milano Cortina organizing committee president, hailed the event as an “extraordinary kaleidoscope of sporting achievements.”[5] The handover signaled continuity for distributed hosting models.
Key Takeaways
- Italy’s 30 medals marked its best Winter Olympics performance ever, securing fourth place overall.
- The Games pioneered sustainability with renewable-powered venues and waste diversion goals.
- Ski mountaineering debuted, alongside records in speed skating and short track.
Milano Cortina 2026 not only elevated Italy’s Olympic legacy but also charted a greener, more inclusive path for winter sports. What moments from these Games will you remember most? Tell us in the comments.
Besides founding Festivaltopia, Fritz is the managing director of Europe’s largest manufacturer of mobile stages Kultour and has a lot of experience in the event industry, loves music and likes to go to festivals.
