Milan's Teatro alla Scala hosted the 145th IOC Session opening ceremony on Monday (February 2) with dignitaries and guests attending the event.

IOC members including Prince Albert II of Monaco and FIFA President Gianni Infantino walked on the red carpet ahead of the opening ceremony in which guests were treated to various musical performances on the famous La Scala stage.

IOC President, Kirsty Coventry, who took over as president in June 2025, said the Games would be unforgettable with everyone excited for them to begin on Friday (February 6).

Italian President Sergio Mattarella, the Milano Cortina 2026 Foundation President Giovanni Malagoa and the Italian National Olympic Committee President Luciano Buonfiglio also gave speeches at the event.

Organisers have been racing against the clock to complete several venues that had been on an extremely tight deadline since the start of preparations for the Games.

Those venues included the Cortina D'Ampezzo sliding centre, which had to be built from scratch, and the Santagiulia ice hockey venue in Milan.

Days ago it was revealed that a cable car intended to carry spectators to the women's Olympic alpine skiing in Cortina would not be ready on time.

It is the first time in 20 years -- since the 2006 Torino Olympics -- that the Winter Games return to the European Alps.

The Olympics will kick off with an opening ceremony at the San Siro stadium on February 6.

The Games run to February 22.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

MILAN, ITALY (FEBRUARY 2, 2026) (IOC - See restrictions before use)

1. EXTERIOR OF TEATRO ALLA SCALA

2. IOC MEMBER MICHELLE YEOH AND HER HUSBAND JEAN TODT ON THE RED CARPET

3. ITALIAN CARABINIERI IN CEREMONIAL UNIFORM STANDING ON THE RED CARPET

4. UNIDENTIFIED GUESTS ON RED CARPET (MAN WEARING ORANGE TIE)

5. SECURITY ON RED CARPET

6. IOC MEMBER, SERGEY BUBKA ARRIVING ON RED CARPET

7. IOC MEMBER AND WORLD ATHLETICS PRESIDENT, SEBASTIAN COE SPEAKING TO GUESTS / SMILING TO CAMERA

8. PRESIDENT OF THE SPORTS FEDERATION AND OLYMPIC COMMITTEE OF HONG KONG, TIMOTHY FOK, ON THE RED CARPET

9. IOC HONORARY PRESIDENT, THOMAS BACH AND HIS WIFE FRAUKE BACH ARRIVING

10. IOC MEMBERS, PAU GASOL AND FIFA PRESIDENT, GIANNI INFANTINO GIVING THUMBS UP TO CAMERA

11. IOC VICE PRESIDENT, NAWAL EL MOUTAWAKEL (RIGHT), ON THE RED CARPET

12. UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN GREETING THE CAMERA

13. DELEGATES IN THE ROOM

14. VARIOUS OF IOC PRESIDENT, KIRSTY COVENTRY HAVING HER PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN ON THE RED CARPET

15. ITALIAN PRESIDENT, SERGIO MATTARELLA, ARRIVING ON THE RED CARPET

16. SIGN, READING: "145TH IOC SESSION"

17. INTERIOR OF THE LA SCALA AUDITORIUM FULL OF GUESTS

18. COVENTRY AND MATTARELLA ENTERING THE AUDITORIUM

19. RICCARDO CHAILLY CONDUCTING THE ORCHESTRA DEL TEATRO ALLA SCALA

20. INTERIOR OF LA SCALA

22. (SOUNDBITE) (English) IOC PRESIDENT, KIRSTY COVENTRY, SAYING: (SOUNDBITE CONTINUES OVER SHOTS OF THE AUDITORIUM)

“From this stage, generations of artists, opera singers, and musicians have inspired their audience through their excellency and artistry, through beauty and emotion. La Scala represents the Italian spirit: a deep love of the arts and life, of human creativity, of blending tradition and innovation. In its same spirit, it will now embrace the world’s best winter sports athletes as they prepare to make their Olympic dreams come true. Over the past

few days, we have seen the excitement building everywhere. And today, we got to spend some time in the Olympic Village. The athletes cannot wait; they are so excited. The first athletes are moving into the villages across Italy, and they have a special sparkle in their eye. You can feel the anticipation, but you can feel the excitement even more.”

23. AUDIENCE APPLAUDING

24. MATTARELLA APPLAUDING

25. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ITALIAN PRESIDENT, SERGIO MATTARELLA, SAYING:

“With steadfast determination, we call for the Olympic Truce to be respected everywhere and for the unarmed strength of sport to silence the weapons. Sport possesses immense power in the world of global communication. The Games are a compelling instrument through which to call for peace and mutual understanding. We want to invoke peace and mutual understanding, as I say, we have to be the peace that we wish to see in the world as was said by Martin Luther King.”

26. PEOPLE APPLAUDING

27. VARIOUS OF RICCARDO CHAILLY CONDUCTING THE ORCHESTRA DEL TEATRO ALLA SCALA

28. INTERIOR OF THE LA SCALA AUDITORIUM