MANILA — Alpine skiers Francis Ceccarelli and Tallulah Proulx raised the Philippine flag at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics in Italy.

Simultaneous opening ceremonies were held in two separate venues across Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo early Saturday morning, Philippine time.

Ceccarelli was the flag-bearer at the ceremony at the Livigno Snow Park, located in a town in Italy’s Valtellina region.

Proulx carried the Philippine flag at the Piazza Angelo Dibona in the heart of Cortina.

The traditional Parade of Athletes likewise took place simultaneously in Milan, Cortina, Livigno and Predazzo, a first for the Winter Games.

Music icons Andrea Bocelli and Mariah Carey performed at the grand and logistically ambitious opening ceremony, which lasted for four hours.

The Olympic flag was raised simultaneously in Milano and Cortina, followed by the much-awaited torch lighting ceremony.

In Cortina, Italian skiing champion and 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympic gold medalist Sofia Goggia was the final recipient of the Olympic flame.

Over in Milano, three-time Winter Olympic gold medalists Deborah Compagnoni and Alberto Tomba had the honors of lighting the cauldron.

Ceccarelli, who is Filipino-Italian, will be competing for the Philippines in his home country where he was raised by Italian parents.

The 22-year-old is an Olympic Solidarity Athlete and was the first to qualify for the Philippines in the 2026 Winter Games.

As for Filipino-American Proulx, she is making history as the first and the youngest Filipina Winter Olympian at 17 years old.

This year’s Winter Olympics delegation is the seventh overall for the Philippines, since 1972 in Sapporo when the country sent alpine skiers Juan Cipiriano and Ben Nanasca.

This also marks the country’s fourth consecutive appearance in the Winter Games since 2014 in Sochi, when the country was represented by figure skater Michael Martinez.

Ceccarelli and Proulx will compete in the giant slalom and slalom events beginning February 14, hoping to bag the country’s first Winter Olympics medal.

Over 2,900 athletes representing 92 National Olympic Committees will compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics which will run until February 22.