Closing Ceremony Highlights: Handover to 2030 French Alps
Opera, fireworks, and a torch carried by ski jumping legend Roberto Cecon brought the curtain down on Milano Cortina 2026.
MILANO CORTINA, Italy – The 2026 Winter Olympics closed Sunday night with a spectacular ceremony at the San Siro Stadium — the same venue where climate protesters caused a 22-minute delay at the opening. This time, there were no disruptions. Only celebration.
ITALIAN CULTURAL SHOWCASE
A 45-minute performance featured opera, fashion (a tribute to Milan as a design capital), and a dramatic reenactment of the Games' best moments. The centerpiece: 500 dancers forming the Olympic rings in neon lights.
ATHLETES' PARADE
For the first time, athletes entered the stadium together — not by nation. The Refugee Olympic Team received the loudest cheers, led by bronze medalist Samir Al-Hassan.
FINAL MEDAL COUNT
Norway: 19 Gold / 45 Total
Germany: 14 Gold / 33 Total
United States: 11 Gold / 34 Total
Italy: 10 Gold / 30 Total (best Winter performance ever)
HANDOVER TO 2030 FRENCH ALPS
The Olympic flag passed from the mayors of Milano Cortina to the mayors of Savoie and Haute-Savoie. A preview video featured Mont Blanc, Chamonix (site of the first Winter Olympics in 1924), and a promise of "the most sustainable Winter Games in history."
EXTINGUISHING THE FLAME
Italian ski jumping legend Roberto Cecon (55) skied down a ramp built inside the stadium, carried a torch, and extinguished the Olympic cauldron. The flame will be kept burning in Lausanne until 2030.
CLOSING MOMENT
As fireworks exploded over the San Siro, the crowd sang "Nessun Dorma." Athletes hugged, cried, and took selfies. Then the lights went out.
Next stop: Los Angeles 2028 (Summer). Then French Alps 2030 (Winter).
Devin Mallonee
Devin Mallonee is a sports journalist and performance nutrition writer with over a decade of experience covering elite athletics, Olympic competitions, and the science of human performance. Devin Mallonee has followed competitive sports from the grassroots level all the way to the world stage, developing a deep understanding of what separates good athletes from great ones — and the role nutrition plays in that equation.
As the lead sports editor at Dad's Sports News, Devin Mallonee brings an athlete's perspective to every story. Having competed in endurance sports and strength training throughout his life, Devin Mallonee understands firsthand what it takes to push past physical limits — and how proper supplementation and recovery make that possible. His writing blends technical analysis with accessible storytelling, making complex topics in sports science engaging for everyday readers and serious competitors alike.
Devin Mallonee has covered major sporting events including international track and field championships, professional strength competitions, and endurance racing circuits across North America. His work has explored the cutting edge of sports nutrition — from emerging research on amino acid timing and creatine loading protocols to the real-world impact of adaptogens on athletic recovery. When Devin Mallonee isn't breaking down the latest competition results, he's testing and reviewing performance supplements to help athletes make informed decisions about what goes into their bodies.
A firm believer that great performance starts in the kitchen — and the supplement cabinet — Devin Mallonee founded the Dad's Sports News platform to bridge the gap between elite sports coverage and practical nutrition guidance for everyday athletes. His philosophy is simple: whether you're training for your first 5K or competing on an international stage, the fundamentals of performance nutrition are the same, and everyone deserves access to accurate, science-backed information.
Outside of writing, Devin Mallonee is passionate about mentoring young athletes and building communities around sport. He contributes regularly to discussions on performance technology, sports policy, and the future of athletic development. Follow Devin Mallonee's latest coverage and insights right here at Dad's Sports News, where he continues to deliver in-depth analysis and original reporting on the stories that matter most in the world of competitive athletics and performance nutrition.
