As we head to the conclusion of the Winter Olympics, we look ahead to the Closing Ceremony. This year in Italy, the Closing Ceremony will take place at the historic Verona Arena, marking the first time an Olympic Closing Ceremony will be held at a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Interestingly enough, the Closing Ceremony of these Games will not take place in Milan or Cortina, but in Verona, which is roughly in between the two host cities. The ceremony will be directed by a creative team led by Alfredo Accatino. The artistic director of the event has designed a celebration titled “Beauty in Action.”
"Beauty in Action showcases Italy in perpetual motion in the iconic setting of Arena di Verona," Accatino said. "It will be a show that combines technology and emotion. The Closing Ceremony will be a tribute to beauty in all its forms, brought to the stage thanks to extraordinary teamwork."
Verona Arena is an ancient amphitheater that was built in approximately 30 A.D., but still maintains its presence as one of the best-preserved ancient structures. It is the third-largest surviving example in Europe, after the Colosseum in Rome and the amphitheater of Capua. Originally built on the outskirts of the city, outside the city walls, it was constructed using pink and white limestone and originally seated around 30,000 spectators. In 1117, a massive earthquake destroyed much of the outer ring of the arena, but the inner portion survived the disaster. Today, it seats around 15,000, which is the expected capacity for the Closing Ceremony.
The arena was originally created for gladiatorial combat, then shifted to jousts, tournaments and bullfights. It has since become an open-air opera house that stages large opera festivals, concerts and occasional sporting events.
The Milan Cortina Olympics have showcased Italian culture, from the modern fashion capital of Milan to the mountain cities around Cortina d'Ampezzo, to the ancient traditions of Roman civilization with the Verona Arena. It is a fitting way to cap an Olympic Games with the theme “Armonia” (Harmony), symbolizing the partnership of the modern cities and the mountains, as well as ancient traditions with modern innovation.
One of the traditions of the Closing Ceremony is passing the Olympic torch to the next hosts of the Winter Games — France. The French flag will be raised next to Italy’s, representing the transition from Milan Cortina to the French Alps in 2030.
The Verona Arena will also serve as the venue for the Opening Ceremony of the Paralympics on March 6.
The Closing Ceremony will take place on Sunday, Feb. 22, with coverage set to begin at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC. The ceremony can be streamed on NBCOlympics.com and Peacock.