Summary

  • Winter Olympics opening ceremony - watch live at top of page (UK only)

  • 25th Games being held in Milan-Cortina, Italy

  • Ceremony staged at Milan's San Siro Stadium with Mariah Carey and Andrea Bocelli among performers, athletes parades also across northern Italy

  • Bobsleigh pilot Brad Hall and ice dancer Lilah Fear are Team GB flagbearers

  • Follow our daily guide, with first medals to be won on Saturday

Send us your Winter Olympics views

  1. Spice up your icepublished at 21:09 GMT 6 February

    Slam it to the left if you're having a good time!

    Figure skating medal hopefuls Lewis Gibson and Lilah Fear talk to Max Balegde about their journey into the sport and their dazzling rhythm dance routine to a Spice Girls medley.

    Watch to find out what special surprise Max has in store for the ice dance duo.

    Media caption,

    British figure skaters Lewis Gibson and Lilah Fear meet influencer Max Balegde on ice

  2. Classic Winters: One lap to gopublished at 21:08 GMT 6 February

    Norwegian skiier Jarl Magnus Riiber held a commanding 44-second lead on the chasing pack as he cruised to the finish line in the combined individual 10km biathlon at Beijing 2022.

    That is, before he realised that he'd opted for a pre-mature exit, was forced to turn around and start one final lap - a mistake that cost him a medal.

    Media caption,

    'Calamity' Norweigian goes wrong way in lead

  3. Postpublished at 21:07 GMT 6 February

    Emma Smith
    BBC Sport at San Siro

    The biggest cheer of the night so far is reserved for Ukraine.

    The Russian invasion of Ukraine occurred on the eve of the 2022 Winter Olympics. Four years on, their athletes are being made to feel very welcome.

  4. 'We were so close to medals and we didn't get there'published at 21:06 GMT 6 February

    While Bruce Mouat won team silver in Beijing, he and mixed doubles partner Jen Dodds painfully finished fourth in 2022.

    Having started their campaign earlier in the week, the Scottish duo are top of the standings for Team GB as the only unbeaten team and are within touching distance of the semi-finals.

    Dodds and Mouat spoke to BBC Sport candidly about their partnership and their experiences at the 2022 Beijing Games.

    Media caption,

    Childhood friends Mouat and Dodds set sight on Olympic gold

  5. Who wore it best?published at 21:03 GMT 6 February

    For those that are interested in style and the fashion of the athletes in tonight's parade...

    Norway paradeImage source, Getty Images
    Poland parade
    Netherlands' flag bearer Jens Van T Wout parades with other athletesImage source, Getty Images
  6. Mouat on being a 'role model'published at 21:01 GMT 6 February

    Bruce Mouat will bid for a curling medal in Cortina after winning team silver in Beijing in 2022.

    Since coming out publicly in 2021, Mouat has become a 'role model' for the LGBT+ community.

    Watch him speak about his story below, or read his letter to his younger self here.

    Media caption,

    Bruce Mouat on representing the LGBTQ community in elite sport

  7. Postpublished at 21:00 GMT 6 February

    Emma Smith
    BBC Sport at San Siro

    In a parallel universe, the Sweden team would be entering last rather than amid the Ss.

    Stockholm-Are was narrowly beaten by Milan-Cortina in the vote for who should host in 2026.

  8. Get Involvedpublished at 20:59 GMT 6 February

    Click 'Get Involved' to have your say

    They need to introduce medals for the athletes parade in order to make it pass quicker.

    Matt, Middlesborough

    Flagbearer Tomas Tatar of Team Slovakia enters with the teamImage source, Getty Images
  9. Postpublished at 20:58 GMT 6 February

    Emma Smith
    BBC Sport at San Siro

    A great cheer for San Marino, for who this is basically a home games.

    The European micronation, whose borders are entirely surrounded by Italy, have one athlete representing them at these games - alpine skier Rafael Mini.

    He waves the Sammarinese flag with pride.

  10. 'Rude, they gave me silver!'published at 20:54 GMT 6 February

    When she's not shredding on her snowboard, Team GB's Zoe Atkin studies symbolic systems at Stanford University, an interdisciplinary program which encompasses psychology, linguistics and computer science.

    What happens when Atkin uses artificial intelligence to imagine her Milano Cortina 2026 journey, right down to her dream Strictly Come Dancing inspired kit?

    Media caption,

    'Rude they gave me silver' - Zoe Atkin

  11. Postpublished at 20:51 GMT 6 February

    My apologies, Andy.

    Trust me, in my household we speak of little else.

  12. Get Involved - Favourite Winter Games memoriespublished at 20:50 GMT 6 February

    Click 'Get Involved' to have your say

    Why do you never mention Team GB's ice hockey team winning gold in 1936? Great Britain were also World and European champions the same year.

    Andy, Kirkcaldy

    Great Britain ice hockey team, Winter Olympic Games in 1936Image source, Getty Images
    Great Britain ice hockey team, Winter Olympic Games in 1936Image source, Getty Images
  13. Classic Winters: Jacobellis ends sixteen-year wait in Beijingpublished at 20:48 GMT 6 February

    American snowboarder Lindsey Jacobellis almost won gold at her debut Olympic games in Turin in 2006.

    Almost.

    As she approached the finish line in first place, she grabbed her board on a jump in celebration - then fell, allowing Swiss Tanja Frieden to seize the top of the podium.

    Sixteen years on, Jacobellis had the chance to redeem herself in Beijing, where she lined up in the final of the final of the women's snow board cross.

    Watch her achieve her dream at what was her final games.

    Media caption,

    Jacobellis wins gold 16 years after famous fall

  14. Postpublished at 20:47 GMT 6 February

    Emma Smith
    BBC Sport at San Siro

    Flagbearer Donovan Carrillo of Team Mexico enters with the teamImage source, Getty Images

    There are only three members of the Mexican party entering the arena here, but they had the enthusiasm to make up for it.

    The flagbearer was pumping that flag back and forward. Great passion, lovely to see.

  15. Get Involvedpublished at 20:45 GMT 6 February

    Click 'Get Involved' to have your say

    The athletes of the United Kingdom parade during the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at Stadio San Siro on February 06, 2026 in Milan, ItalyImage source, Getty Images

    Did Tom Daley knit GB scarves?

    Jim, Hereford

    Proud of Team GB's clothing. Really Smart, and in particular I love the coats and scarves.

    Christian, Sheffield

    Team GB's Olympic diver, Tom Daley, did indeed provide unique hand-knitted scarves and winter hats for Team GB. Whether he knitted every single individual piece, I'm not sure...

  16. Get Involved - Who wore it best?published at 20:43 GMT 6 February

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    I'm struggling to pick my favourite team kit, they do all look very toasty. I am loving the big silver sleeping bags the name bearers are wearing! Would be great for walking the dog in the winter!

    Sahara, Rotherham

    Germany's athletes paradeImage source, Getty Images
    Japan athletes paradeImage source, Getty Images
    Flagbearer Mikko Lehtonen of Team Finland leads the teamImage source, Getty Images
  17. 'No chance I'm doing this'published at 20:39 GMT 6 February

    If you enjoyed the video further down of us putting influencer Chris Hughes in one extremely dangerous situation, then why not have another one?

    Media caption,

    Can Chris Hughes hold his nerve and give bobsleigh a go?

  18. Home time for GBpublished at 20:35 GMT 6 February

    Katie Falkingham
    BBC Sport in Livigno

    Just bumped into Team GB after their parade in Livigno.

    Home time for them.

    There are tonnes of buses lined up outside the venue, ready to whisk them away to somewhere warmer.

    Team GBImage source, BBC Sport
  19. Postpublished at 20:34 GMT 6 February

    Jess Anderson
    BBC Sport in Cortina

    Big cheers as Team GB come past looking incredibly dapper.

    Here’s a very excited (albeit blurry) Matt Weston. He’ll be reenacting something similar to this if he can win that skeleton gold medal next week.

    Matt Weston team gbImage source, BBC Sport
  20. Who wore it best?published at 20:33 GMT 6 February

    Some colourful dresswear during the athlete parade...

    Czech Republic have had the funkiest outfit, so far. Then you simply can't miss Belgium's athletes, thanks to their bright yellow jacket and trousers.

    Finally, not the brightest outfit from Brazil, but they did display some dance moves whilst parading.

    The delegation of Czechia arrive to the Opening Ceremony at the Milano CortinaImage source, EPA
    Athletes from Team Belgium enter the paradeImage source, Getty Images
    Athletes of Team Brazil walk in the paradeImage source, Getty Images