Masked revellers open Olympic-themed Venice Carnival ahead of Winter Games

VIDEO SHOWS: MASKED REVELLERS CELEBRATING OLYMPICS THEMED CARNIVAL IN VENICE  SHOWS: VENICE, ITALY (JANUARY 31, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all) 1. PEOPLE IN ST. MARK'S SQUARE 2. FACADE OF ST. MARK'S BASILICA  3. WOMEN WEARING OLYMPIC-THEMED COSTUMES BLOWING KISSES TO CAMERA 4. MASKED REVELLERS IN SQUARE 5. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) REVELLER FROM MILAN, BENEDETTA VIOLANTE, SAYING:     “A wish for our Italian athletes.” (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) REVELLER FROM MILAN, CLARA BRAMATI, SAYING:     “Of course, we're carrying the Olympic torch. We take a tour of Venice, so it will bring luck to the Italian athletes. That's the only medal we want to see!” (SAYS SHOWING A MOCK-OLYMPIC GOLDEN MEDAL AND MOCK-OLYMPIC TORCH) 6. MASKED REVELLER 7. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) REVELLER FROM VENEZIA, ROMEO, SAYING:     “Well, the Olympics represent the whole world, all nations, just as Carnival encompasses the whole world and the whole world loves the Venice Carnival.” 8. WOMEN WEARING MASKS 9. MASKED COUPLE TAKING A SELFIE 10. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) REVELLER FROM TUSCANY, ROBERTA CIANI, SAYING:      “So, we have always been intrigued by the Carnival and decided to take part this year by sewing our own costumes in a week, rummaging through old things, even though we don't know how to sew. But it was fun because it's a nice attraction for Venice.” 11. PEOPLE NEAR STALL 12. TRADITIONAL VENETIAN MASKS 13. (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOURIST FROM POLAND, THOMAS KAZIMIERSKY, SAYING:    "I feel very, very well, very well. I'm coming from Poland with my wife to celebrate 31 years together”. 14. (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOURIST FROM POLAND, KAROLINA KAZIMIERSKY, SAYING:  “It's beautiful, colourful people, everybody (is) happy around and it's all nice all over there here.” 15. MASKED REVELLERS 16. REVELLER WEARING A GIRAFFE COSTUME 17. GLOVED HAND/ MASKED FACE OF WOMAN 18. MASKED REVELLERS 19. GONDOLAS 20. DETAIL OF GONDOLA 21. ST. MARK’S BELL TOWER/ ST. MARK’S SQUARE STORY: Masked revellers gathered in Venice on Saturday (January 31), a day before the official opening of the city’s annual Carnival, which this year carries an Olympic theme linked to Italy’s hosting of the Milan-Cortina Winter Games. The Carnival, running from Jan. 31 to Feb. 17, is titled "Olympus: At the Origins of the Game" and celebrates sport and ancient mythology in the year Italy hosts the Winter Olympics and Paralympics. Visitors in elaborate costumes and traditional masks filled St Mark’s Square and surrounding streets ahead of the opening events, posing for photographs as the lagoon city prepared for a weekend of festivities. The programme includes masked balls, street performances and a water parade of traditional boats along the Grand Canal on Sunday, led by the "Pantegana" rat, a long-standing carnival symbol. Italy will host the Winter Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo in February 2026, with cultural events such as the Venice Carnival adding to the build-up. (Production: Gabriele Pileri, Roberto Mignucci, Claudia Chieppa)

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