Royalty & sporting dignitaries attend IOC Session opening ceremony in Milan

VIDEO SHOWS: IOC MEMBERS, ORGANISER OF THE MILANO CORTINA 2026 WINTER OLYMPICS, AND GUESTS WALK ON RED CARPET AT THE IOC SESSION OPENING CEREMONY. SOUNDBITES FROM IOC PRESIDENT, KIRSTY COVENTRY, ITALIAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE PRESIDENT, LUCIANO BUONFIGLIO, MILANO CORTINA 2026 FOUNDATION PRESIDENT, GIOVANNI MALAGO, AND ITALIAN PRESIDENT, SERGIO MATTARELLA RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT SHOWS: MILAN, ITALY (FEBRUARY 2, 2026) (AGENCY POOL- Access all) 1. BOARD ON WALL, READING: "145th IOC SESSION" 2. ITALIAN CARABINIERI IN CEREMONIAL UNIFORM STANDING ON THE RED CARPET AT LA SCALA FOR THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 145TH IOC SESSION 3. IOC HONORARY PRESIDENT, THOMAS BACH AND HIS WIFE FRAUKE BACH ARRIVING 4. MILANO CORTINA 2026 FOUNDATION PRESIDENT, GIOVANNI MALAGO (LEFT), AND PRINCE ALBERT II OF MONACO POSING TOGETHER 5. IOC MEMBER, SERGEY BUBKA ARRIVING AND GREETING GUESTS 6. IOC PRESIDENT, KIRSTY COVENTRY ENTERING THE VENUE AND GREETING GUESTS 7. COVENTRY POSING FOR PHOTOS ON THE RED CARPET 8. VARIOUS OF FIFA PRESIDENT, GIANNI INFANTINO ON THE RED CARPET 9. IOC VICE PRESIDENT, NAWAL EL MOUTAWAKEL, ON THE RED CARPET 10. PRESIDENT OF THE SPORTS FEDERATION AND OLYMPIC COMMITTEE OF HONG KONG,TIMOTHY FOK ,  POSING ON THE RED CARPET 11. IOC MEMBER MICHELLE YEOH AND HER HUSBAND JEAN TODT ON THE RED CARPET 12. PRESENTERS SPEAKING ON STAGE DURING THE IOC SESSION OPENING CEREMONY 13. AUDIENCE SITTING INSIDE LA SCALA DURING THE OPENING CEREMONY 14. COVENTRY AND OTHER DIGNITARIES SEATED IN THE AUDIENCE. 15. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ITALIAN NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE (CONI) PRESIDENT, LUCIANO BUONFIGLIO, SAYING:     "It is a deep emotion and a great honour for me to welcome you to Milan for the opening ceremony of the 145th IOC Session." 16. (SOUNDBITE) (English) MILANO CORTINA 2026 FOUNDATION PRESIDENT, GIOVANNI MALAGO, SAYING:     "Mr President of the Italian Republic and Madam President of the International Olympic Committee, colleagues, and friends of the International Olympic Committee, of the Italian Olympic Committee (INAUDIBLE). The theatre hosting us this evening represents a global symbol of excellence in music and arts. A monument in which a universal language resonates at its highest level, transcending every barrier and speaking to people everywhere." 18. (SOUNDBITE) (English) IOC PRESIDENT, KIRSTY COVENTRY, SAYING:     "So, on behalf of the athletes and the entire Olympic community, I want to express my heartfelt thanks and gratitude to you all. Thank you, President Mattarella, and the government of Italy, and all of the regional authorities, mayors and host communities who are all essential to making these Games unforgettable. These Games are also somewhere where your team are going to be performing. And so to the President Buonfiglio, on your 200 days, thank you for everything you and CONI have done to prepare the athletes for Italy's special moment." 19. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ITALIAN PRESIDENT, SERGIO MATTARELLA, SAYING: (OFFICIAL TRANSLATION)     "Italy, as President Buonfiglio just mentioned, is hosting the Olympic Games for the fourth time as an organising country. We will put forth every effort to ensure that the time spent during the days of the competition is enjoyable." 20. AUDIENCE LISTENING 21. AUDIENCE APPLAUDING STORY: Milan's Teatro alla Scala hosted the 145th IOC Session opening ceremony on Monday (February 2) with dignitaries and guests attending the event.     IOC members including Prince Albert II of Monaco and FIFA President, Gianni Infantino walked on the red carpet ahead of the opening ceremony in which guests were treated to various musical performances on the famous La Scala stage.     IOC President, Kirsty Coventry, who took over as president in June 2025, said the Games would be unforgettable with everyone excited for them to begin on Friday (February 6).     Italian President,  Sergio Mattarella, the Milano Cortina 2026 Foundation President, Giovanni Malago, and the Italian National Olympic Committee President, Luciano Buonfiglio also gave speeches at the event.     Organisers have been racing against the clock to complete several venues that had been on an extremely tight deadline since the start of preparations for the Games.     Those venues included the Cortina D'Ampezzo sliding centre, which had to be built from scratch, and the Santagiulia ice hockey venue in Milan.     Days ago it was revealed that a cable car intended to carry spectators to the women's Olympic alpine skiing in Cortina would not be ready on time.     It is the first time in 20 years — since the 2006 Torino Olympics — that the Winter Games return to the European Alps.     The Olympics will kick off with an opening ceremony at the San Siro stadium on February 6.     The Games run to February 22. (Production: Tim Hart)

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