Hosts Italy to stage four Parades of Nations

Events spread across the European country

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At the Winter Olympics opening ceremonies today, athletes will march in the traditional Parade of Nations at the San Siro stadium in Milan. But they will also be parading elsewhere in Italy, in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Predazzo and Livigno. This geographically expansive Olympics will be just as spread out for the opening festivities.

Milan is the first named host of the Milan-Cortina Winter Games. But while the city has the facilities to host indoor events like figure skating and ice hockey, it has a conspicuous absence of high mountains.

That brings in Cortina d'Ampezzo, in the Italian Dolomites, 150 miles (240km) to the northeast, where skiers will head down the slopes, lugers will glide and biathletes will ski and shoot.

Both places will have Olympic cauldrons that will be lit during the opening ceremonies.