Sir Rols

I was wondering earlier if they’re being left for the athletes. But now I’m also wondering if the athletes (apart from the flagbearers) are coming at all.

Funny, I hated Volare in the opening because it was such a slow, mournful version. But I didn’t mind the subdued anthem version. Oh well, different tastes.

And now flame coming in in a Murano glass lantern

Flame journey montage

So, are the flag bearers the only athletes who will be attending:

Lovely rendition of the anthem

Absolutely wonderful opening act. Just that part has already surpassed Paris’ entire closing ceremony (sorry Paris, I still suffer PTSD from that)

And now we’re outside. Jeez, hard to think if a more stunning location

Traviata!

Well, as an Opera fan, I’m enjoying so far

Finally

Is this thing going to start already…? Oh, a lovely amphitheater in blue

I haven’t seen much about how Italians embraced the game, but this article seems to dictate that, yes, they caught the Olympic glow: How Italians fell in love with their Winter Olympics after gaffes turned into gold

“Have you ever watched the 1976 fencing final?”

Maybe she’ll be better at kicking down than kicking sideways IOC will not censure Infantino for link to Trump's Board of Peace

Just watched the mix relay, and it was a little better - longer course, a bit more gruelling. Probably what I was expecting more. Can’t say I’m a fan of it yet, but it’s okay.

Well, if she’d just read GamesBids she’d have been across it all

It’s their revenge for all of us flaming them in the first week

Davide Ghiotto, Italy, speedskating

I honestly couldn’t recall, so did a quick research, and no, they weren’t. The paras symbol was also different then. Not the agitos, but the “geuks”.

It’s certainly not what I expected it to be. I was imagining some sort of long cross country type course across tough terrain culminating in a long downhill/nordic ski run. Instead it was a short uphill novelty course ending in a short slide. It’s quicksand d easily watchable, but I agree it doesn’t really capture the Olympic gravitas.

Even I’ll join her fan club

I think I fell in love with Ami. She was just such a little cutie

Yay! I missed you at the opening ceremony, so really glad you made it to pop in. Always good to welcome back the old crew.

I thought I’d remembered them getting medals before, so I just checked. Apparently they got a gold in Sapporo, and some silvers snd bronzes more recently. But, yeah, was happy to see Spain join the tally