Kirsty Coventry, the first female IOC President, declared the Winter Olympics open Friday. This year's Games are historic in more than one way. Here's why. (AP)

Follow along for live updates from the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympic Games. Get the latest news, results, TV schedules and highlights from Italy.

Mariah Carey took center stage to help kick off the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony at 100-year-old San Siro Stadium in Milan, Italy.

The American figure skater's unapologetic queerness feels more important than ever.

Luciano Pavarotti, the Italian opera singer, previously sang the song during his final public performance at the 2006 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Turin. Because of his health issues, the song was pre-recorded and lip-synced.

Mexican Alpine skier Sarah Schleper and her son Lasse Gaxiola are set to make history at the Winter Olympics. (AP photo)

Swedish skier Elis Lundholm has made history as the first openly transgender athlete to compete in the Winter Olympics. Lundholm, 23, a transgender man, was announced last month as a member of the women’s freestyle skiing division under current International Olympic Committee (IOC) guidelines.

Taufatofua was announced as a flag bearer ahead of Friday's Opening Ceremony for the Milan Cortina Olympics, and he appeared near the end of the night carrying the Olympic flag as a "messenger of peace," alongside Tadatoshi Akiba, Rebeca Andrade, Maryam Bukar Hassan, Nicolo Govoni, Filippo Grandi, Eliud Kipchoge and Cindy Ngamba.