Milano Cortina 2026 delivered an Olympic Opening Ceremony unlike any other on Friday, and not just because it featured Mariah Carey serenading the world in Italian.

With more than 400 kilometres separating Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, these are the most spread-out Olympic Games ever held. It takes more than four hours to drive between the two locations, making the logistics of the Opening Ceremony rather complicated.

Rather than expect athletes to make the long journey between the two locations, for the first time, the Opening Ceremony was divided into multiple venues. While the main event took place in front of over 75,000 spectators at San Siro Stadium in Milan, athletes also marched in smaller ceremonies in the northern Italian towns of Cortina, Livigno, and Predazzo.

Canada’s flag bearers, Mikaël Kingsbury and Marielle Thompson, carried the Maple Leaf with pride, but they did so in Livigno. That’s where the pair of freestyle skiers is set to compete.

Team Canada had one of the largest teams march into the stadium in Milan, but they were also one of the countries without a flag waving in front of them.

Huge roar for Canada, by far the biggest team announced here in Milan so far.

The athletes didn’t march behind their flag though, as Canada’s flag bearers are marching at another stadium. pic.twitter.com/mI0AOZx0dP

— Rob Williams (@RobTheHockeyGuy) February 6, 2026

It made the parade of nations a bit of an awkward in-stadium experience, even if it looked seamless on television.

CANADA HAS ENTERED THE BUILDING 🇨🇦🚨#MilanoCortina2026 pic.twitter.com/Icya8BgrFq

— CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) February 6, 2026

While Canada had representation in each location, many countries competing at the Winter Olympics didn’t have a single athlete marching in Milan.

This is what the parade of nations looks like for many countries inside the stadium in Milan.

Multiple countries have been announced without a single athlete marching. They’re marching in Cortina instead. pic.twitter.com/y3MDSw4gu6

— Rob Williams (@RobTheHockeyGuy) February 6, 2026

If history has taught us one thing, minor blips like this will become nothing but a minor footnote once the competition gets into full swing on Saturday.

Let the Games begin.