Opening ceremony of the 145th IOC Session in Milan's Teatro alla Scala

Opening ceremony of the 145th IOC Session held in Milan, Italy on 2 February as part of the build-up to the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.

IOC Chief Kirsty Coventry and Italian President Sergio Mattarella attended the opening ceremony. The event marked the official start of the 145th International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session, a major meeting of IOC Members and leaders of the Olympic Movement ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics.

IOC President Kirsty Coventry delivered opening remarks, acknowledging the long and at times challenging preparations but expressing enthusiasm for the Games and confidence in the organization’s readiness.  Italian President Sergio Mattarella spoke at the ceremony, declaring the session open and highlighting Olympic values such as inclusion, fraternity, and loyalty, and calling for an Olympic truce.