That was the fun, now we come to the official part. Giovanni Malago, head of the organizing committee, recalls the guiding principle of “harmony” that stands for this opening ceremony and the Olympic family. Afterwards, IOC President Kirsty Coventry, a former swimmer, invokes the Olympic spirit. And finally, it is up to Italy’s Sergio Mattarella to officially open the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Aiko Tanaka
Aiko Tanaka is a combat sports journalist and general sports reporter at Archysport. A former competitive judoka who represented Japan at the Asian Games, Aiko brings firsthand athletic experience to her coverage of judo, martial arts, and Olympic sports. Beyond combat sports, Aiko covers breaking sports news, major international events, and the stories that cut across disciplines — from doping scandals to governance issues to the business side of global sport. She is passionate about elevating the profile of underrepresented sports and athletes.
