Held over 17 days across mountain valleys, alpine towns and urban arenas, the Games combined historic venues with a decentralized model that Olympic officials say could influence future editions. The closing ceremony sought to reflect that blend of heritage and modernity, pairing operatic tributes with contemporary Italian pop and dance music.

Declaring the Games closed, International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry praised the local organizing committee for delivering “a new kind of winter games” and setting a “very high standard for the future.” It was the first Winter Olympics overseen by Coventry in her role as IOC president.

A ceremony rooted in Italian culture

Staged inside the Roman-era Verona Arena, roughly midway between the various competition clusters, the 2½-hour ceremony leaned heavily into Italy’s artistic traditions. The production opened with a theatrical nod to lyric opera, long associated with the Arena’s summer festival, before transitioning into modern performances.

Characters from operas such as La Traviata, Aida and Rigoletto were theatrically “unpacked” from mirrored crates placed around the amphitheater. Seventeenth-century musicians performed “Libiamo ne’ lieti calici,” while costumed figures moved from the stage into the piazza outside, mingling with athletes carrying national flags.

Later segments featured ballet dancer Roberto Bolle in an aerial performance staged within a ring of light symbolizing the sun. He descended onto a set designed to resemble the Venetian lagoon, complete with gondolas, dancing to music by Italian singer Joan Thiele. The program culminated with DJ Gabry Ponte energizing athletes in the arena, followed by a final performance from Achille Lauro, who closed the night with the song “Incoscienti Giovani.”

Approximately 12,000 spectators attended the ceremony — a smaller gathering than the opening event in Milan’s San Siro stadium, which drew more than 60,000.

Record medal haul for Italy

A total of 116 medal events were contested across eight sports and 16 disciplines, including the Olympic debut of ski mountaineering. The final medals — in the 50-kilometer mass start cross-country skiing races — were awarded just hours before the closing event.

Host nation Italy achieved its strongest Winter Olympic performance, collecting 30 medals: 10 gold, six silver and 14 bronze. The tally surpassed its previous record of 20 medals set at the 1994 Lillehammer Games.

Giovanni Malagò, president of the Milan Cortina Foundation, credited Italian athletes with uniting the country and contributing significantly to the Games’ overall success. Many of the medalists were present in the arena, wearing white headbands emblazoned with “Italia.”

The Olympic flame, encased in a Venetian glass vessel, was carried into the Arena by Italian gold medalists from the 1994 Lillehammer Winter Games. Illuminated Olympic rings appeared on the stone steps behind the stage as the flame was raised in the center of the amphitheater.

A new geographic model

The Italy-hosted Games spanned approximately 22,000 square kilometers (8,500 square miles), stretching from ice events in Milan to alpine skiing and snowboarding in Valtellina near the Swiss border, biathlon in Anterselva near Austria, and cross-country skiing in Val di Fiemme north of Verona. Sliding sports, curling and women’s downhill competitions took place in Cortina d’Ampezzo.

Organizers had argued that the decentralized format would reduce the need for new construction by relying largely on existing facilities. While that approach posed logistical challenges, IOC officials suggested it may serve as a template for future Winter Games in regions with established winter sports infrastructure.

Following tradition, the Olympic flag was handed to representatives of France, which will host the next Winter Games in 2030. French organizers plan to stage events across Alpine venues and the Mediterranean city of Nice, maintaining a similarly distributed structure. Speedskating is expected to be held either in Italy or the Netherlands, according to organizers.

Paralympics to follow in Verona

The Verona Arena will again serve as the ceremonial focal point when it hosts the opening of the Milan Cortina Paralympic Winter Games on March 6. The Paralympics will run through March 15, using many of the same competition sites.

The extinguishing of the Milan Cortina Olympic cauldrons — an unprecedented dual arrangement — was accompanied by a light show rather than fireworks, in line with local restrictions intended to avoid disturbing animals in and around Verona.

As the lights dimmed and athletes filed out, the ceremony underscored both the scale and the experimentation of Italy’s Winter Olympics. Whether the spread-out model becomes a long-term blueprint for the Olympic movement may depend on future hosts, but for now, the 2026 edition closes as a chapter that combined tradition, geography and adaptation in equal measure.

Source: AP News – Twin Milan and Cortina Olympic cauldrons are extinguished, signaling the end of Winter Games

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Gennadiy Golovkin, the former middleweight champion from Kazakhstan, has been appointed president of World Boxing, the organization set to oversee Olympic boxing at the 2028 Los Angeles Games. He will lead the new body after a vetting process left him as the sole eligible candidate.

Appointment and Election Process

Vetting and Candidacy

Golovkin was initially scheduled to run against Greek official Harilaos Mariolis in Rome for the World Boxing presidency. However, the organization announced that Mariolis had been declared ineligible following an independent review. Golovkin praised the vetting panel, highlighting the importance of transparent governance in Olympic sports.

“I would like to acknowledge the work of the Independent Vetting Panel of World Boxing in ensuring elections are fair and transparent,” Golovkin said. He added that he still plans to meet delegates and present his strategy for the next four years.

Golovkin’s Background

Athletic Career and Olympic Ties

Golovkin won a silver medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics before turning professional. He retired with a record of 42 wins, 2 losses, and 1 draw. His leadership in rebuilding World Boxing’s relationship with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) made him a frontrunner. The IOC had considered removing boxing from the 2028 program but later reinstated it in March.

World Boxing’s Role

New Organization in Olympic Sport

World Boxing was created in 2023 after a split between the IOC and the International Boxing Association (IBA). The IOC had previously run boxing tournaments at the Tokyo and Paris Games due to concerns over IBA governance, transparency, and judging standards. The 2028 Olympics will mark the first time World Boxing directly oversees Olympic competitions.

The organization did not explain why Mariolis was deemed ineligible. The Greek Boxing Federation said his candidacy was a personal initiative and that it was not involved.

Challenges Ahead

Rebuilding Trust in Amateur Boxing

Golovkin faces the challenge of restoring confidence in amateur boxing. World Boxing is dealing with ongoing controversies, including a legal appeal by Olympic champion Imane Khelif over a requirement for genetic sex testing before competition.

“Trust is the main word in our manifesto,” Golovkin told the Associated Press. “Try to understand me as an athlete, not as an investor, politician, or businessman.”

As president, he will need to set policies, ensure fair competition, and strengthen boxing’s credibility ahead of its Olympic return in Los Angeles.

International Boxing Context

IBA and Global Governance

The IOC expelled the IBA from the Olympic movement in 2023 after years of governance issues. While IBA still runs competitions outside the Olympic system, World Boxing now represents the official Olympic pathway. It will coordinate with national federations and the IOC to enforce fairness and transparency standards.

Golovkin’s appointment marks a shift toward athlete-centered leadership. It signals a renewed focus on integrity and operational reform as the boxing community prepares for the 2028 Olympics.

Source: AP News – Gennadiy Golovkin to head up new Olympic boxing body ahead of LA Games

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Kirsty Coventry has made history as the first woman and the first African to be elected President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). At 41, she also becomes the youngest leader to hold the prestigious position, inheriting a role with immense influence over global sports, politics, and economics. Coventry succeeds Thomas Bach, whose 12-year tenure saw some of the most defining moments in the Olympic movement. As she prepares to take the reins in June, she faces a multitude of challenges that will shape the future of the Games.

Reintegrating Russia and Belarus into the Olympics

One of the most pressing issues on Coventry’s agenda is the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the IOC imposed a blanket ban on athletes from both nations. However, by 2023, certain competitors were allowed to participate under the Individual Neutral Athlete (AIN) flag, provided they met strict eligibility criteria.

With the war in Ukraine ongoing, the debate over full reintegration remains contentious. Russia has vowed to fight for participation, while Ukraine continues to urge the IOC to uphold restrictions. Coventry must navigate this geopolitical minefield, balancing the IOC’s commitment to neutrality with mounting pressure from governments and sporting federations worldwide.

Navigating U.S. Politics and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics

The 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles present another political challenge, especially if Donald Trump returns to the White House. Trump has previously expressed strong opinions on sports policies, including athlete eligibility and visa restrictions. His leadership could introduce new complexities regarding athlete participation based on nationality and gender identity.

CNN Sports analyst Christine Brennan predicts that Trump will be an influential—if not disruptive—figure in the lead-up to LA 2028. As the head of state of the host nation, he would play a significant role in the Games’ opening and closing ceremonies, potentially using the platform to push political agendas. Coventry must maintain the Olympic principles of neutrality and universality while ensuring that all 206 National Olympic Committees and the Refugee Olympic Team can participate without undue interference.

Establishing Unified Policies on Gender and DSD Athletes

Currently, there is no universal IOC framework regarding the participation of transgender and athletes with Differences in Sex Development (DSD) in international competitions. Since 2021, individual sports federations have been responsible for setting their own eligibility criteria, leading to inconsistencies and confusion among athletes.

Some federations, like World Athletics, have implemented stricter regulations for DSD athletes, while others, like World Rugby, have outright banned transgender women from competing in elite women’s competitions due to concerns over competitive fairness and safety.

During the Paris 2024 Games, misinformation regarding athletes’ gender identity led to widespread online abuse. Coventry will need to address this issue by potentially introducing standardized guidelines based on scientific research, ensuring fair competition while promoting inclusion.

Choosing the 2036 Olympic Host and Expanding Frontiers

Coventry’s presidency will extend through 2033, encompassing the selection of the host city for the 2036 Summer Olympics. With human rights commitments now embedded in the Olympic Charter, the decision-making process will be more scrutinized than ever.

Several countries, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, India, and Indonesia, have expressed interest in hosting. The IOC has also modified its selection criteria to allow multiple cities, regions, or even countries to co-host the Games. With climate change concerns rising, Coventry might need to consider shifting the traditional Olympic calendar to allow for more diverse and sustainable bids.

Additionally, with the rise of digital entertainment, the IOC will likely explore new ways to engage younger audiences. The inaugural Olympic Esports Games in Riyadh in 2027 signals a shift toward embracing technological transformation. Coventry’s leadership could determine how the Olympic movement adapts to the evolving landscape of global sports consumption.

A Defining Era for the IOC

Kirsty Coventry steps into leadership at a time of immense global uncertainty. From handling geopolitical tensions to redefining gender policies and modernizing the Games, her tenure will significantly shape the future of the Olympic movement. How she addresses these challenges will determine whether she leaves a lasting legacy in the world of sports governance.

Source: CNN – From geopolitical Jenga to gender politics: The challenges facing the new incoming IOC President Kirsty Coventry

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