CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — Italian skiing champion Sofia Goggia, whose pivotal role in securing the 2026 Winter Olympics for Italy, delivered a symbolic culmination to Friday’s opening ceremony by lighting the Olympic cauldron in Cortina d’Ampezzo. The honor occurred simultaneously with retired Olympic legends Alberto Tomba and Deborah Compagnoni performing identical duties in Milan, creating a historic dual-city spectacle.
Goggia’s selection as torchlighter carried profound significance given her instrumental involvement in Milan-Cortina’s successful bid. During the critical 2019 IOC voting session, Goggia and snowboarder Michela Moioli delivered a charismatic joint presentation that reportedly swayed nearly 100 committee members with their infectious enthusiasm. Their demonstration, which included a synchronized dab gesture, ultimately helped overcome Sweden’s competing candidacy through an exhibition of authentic Italian athletic spirit.
The 2018 Olympic downhill gold medalist and 2022 Beijing silver medalist now prepares to compete in Sunday’s women’s downhill event on her home slope. Goggia maintains a complex relationship with the Cortina course, having secured four World Cup downhill victories here while simultaneously missing the 2021 world championships due to injury.
The ceremony additionally featured defending World Cup champion Federica Brignone as one of Italy’s flag bearers, with Olympic curling champion Amos Mosaner physically elevating her during the athletes’ parade—a moment Brignone later remarked upon with humorous concern about her weight. The dual-city opening ceremony established a powerful visual narrative of Italian winter sports heritage bridging generations of athletic excellence.