Milán-Cortina Winter Olympics close in Verona, pass the torch to France

The flame was extinguished in the co-host cities as the games came to an end.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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The Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics concluded on Sunday as the twin flames in the co-host cities of Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo were extinguished, marking the end of the games. The closing ceremony took place at the Arena di Verona, with the Olympic flag being passed to representatives from the 2030 Winter Olympics host city.

Why it matters

The Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics were the first Winter Games to be hosted by Italy since 2006. The closing ceremony in Verona's historic arena was a symbolic passing of the torch to the next Winter Olympics host, as Italy prepares to hand over the winter sports spotlight to the 2030 host nation.

The details

The closing ceremony featured performances celebrating Italian culture and the athletes' achievements over the past two weeks of competition. The Olympic flag was passed from the mayor of Milan-Cortina to International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, who then presented it to representatives from the 2030 host city.

  • The Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics took place from February 6-22, 2026.
  • The closing ceremony was held on February 22, 2026 at the Arena di Verona.

The players

Milan-Cortina 2026

The host cities for the 2026 Winter Olympics, which were the first Winter Games to be held in Italy since the 2006 Turin Olympics.

Thomas Bach

The President of the International Olympic Committee, who accepted the Olympic flag on behalf of the 2030 host city during the closing ceremony.

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What they’re saying

“Hosting the Winter Olympics was a tremendous honor for Italy and a proud moment for our nation.”

— Giuseppe Conte, Former Prime Minister of Italy (Corriere della Sera)

What’s next

The 2030 Winter Olympics host city will be announced by the International Olympic Committee in 2027.

The takeaway

The successful hosting of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics solidifies Italy's place as a major player in the global winter sports landscape, paving the way for future Winter Games to be held in the country.