The ten-member Israeli team marched in the traditional parade of nations, carrying their country’s flag. Boos were immediately heard from the stands, though they were largely drowned out by the ceremony’s loud music.

In Cortina d’Ampezzo, where a simultaneous parade was held for athletes in the mountain venues, the reception was mixed, with the Israeli team receiving some applause. In contrast, at Predazzo, the site of the ski jumping events, critical comments were heard from parts of the crowd.

Many spectators appeared to anticipate the Israeli team’s entrance, with the reaction widely expected due to international tensions surrounding the war in Gaza.

“We Were Prepared,” Say Israeli Athletes

Israeli athletes had previously stated they expected a potentially hostile reception due to the conflict in Gaza, where nearly 560 people—mostly civilians—have been killed since the ceasefire in October, while Palestinian militants have killed four Israeli soldiers.

Skier Barnabas Szollos said, “I am prepared; let them do what they want. I just want to have a good race and enjoy it.”

Israel carries a heavy historical memory at the Olympics, as 11 Israeli athletes were murdered at the 1972 Munich Games. The International Olympic Committee officially paid tribute to the victims 49 years later, during the 2021 Tokyo Olympics Opening Ceremony.

Boos Also for the United States

A similar atmosphere prevailed when the U.S. delegation entered, as stadium screens displayed U.S. Vice President JD Vance. The crowd reacted with boos, expressing disapproval of Washington’s policies, turning the ceremony into a politically charged event beyond its athletic nature.

Opening Ceremony Across Four Cities, Under the Shadow of Global Conflicts

The 2026 Winter Olympics officially opened on Friday evening with an ambitious ceremony held simultaneously in four locations: the historic San Siro Stadium in Milan, and the alpine venues of Cortina, Predazzo, and Livigno.

Alberto Tomba and Deborah Compagnoni, two of Italy’s most successful alpine skiers, lit the cauldron at two different sites. Andrea Bocelli sang at San Siro as the flame entered the stadium, stunning the audience with his powerful voice.

At the center of the Milan stadium, dozens of artists ascended an impressive spiral structure with four arms, symbolically “opening” toward the secondary stages hundreds of kilometers away in the snowy Alps.

Games Begin Amid Global Tensions

The Games, which will run until February 22, are taking place in a highly charged international environment, with the war in Ukraine ongoing and tensions in the Middle East remaining at the forefront of global news.

Just hours before the opening, Pope Leo XIV called on the international community to respect the Olympic Truce, reminding them that in November, UN member states had adopted a resolution—a principle often tested in practice.

The official stands were attended by international leaders and officials, including JD Vance and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, meeting with the new IOC President Kirsty Coventry, two years ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni used the presence of foreign leaders for diplomatic contacts, while organizers of the 2030 Winter Olympics in the French Alps have already expressed interest in the dispersed organization model.