Goodable

This week, Canadian pop music icon Shawn Mendes did something very few artists have had the courage to do: He announced the cancellation of his world tour in order to focus on his mental health. He made the announcement <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CghLcRuLILp/" target="_blank">via Instagram</a>, saying he wasn’t ready to face the increased mental health pressures of going back on tour. It’s a trend experts are seeing more often in Gen Z, who are more open to talking about their mental health than generations before.

<img src="https://thefader-res.cloudinary.com/private_images/w_760,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:best/GettyImages-1020372020_lu7tzd/shawn-mendes-shirt-lol.jpg">

The American Psychiatric Association released a report saying teens and young adults are more likely to have received treatment or gone to therapy (37%) compared to Millennials (35%), Gen X’ers (26%), Baby Boomers (22%), and the Silent Generation (15%). The report, “<a href="https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2018/stress-gen-z.pdf" target="_blank">Stress in America: Generation Z</a>” says there are three reasons for the increased use of mental health services: <ul><li>

Life has introduced a different variety of stressors, leading to increased psychological concerns and more need for services for mental health.
</li><li>

Awareness of mental health issues has grown, so that what once might have been ignored is recognized as a problem and treated as such.
</li><li>

Stigma around using mental health services has lessened, making it more likely that Gen Z will identify their own issues and seek help when they feel they have a mental health problem that can be treated.
</li></ul>
"Gen Z are far more conscious of mental health issues—and more able to articulate them—than their parents were," explains Dr. Rebecca Rialon Berry, an associate professor at NYU. She also notes Millennials (anyone born 1981 to 1996) tend to also be more open to mental health treatment than previous generations. 

Mendes isn't the only celebrity that’s opened up about mental health. In 2018, NBA All-Star DeMar DeRozan divulged his struggle with depression.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">This depression get the best of me...— DeMar DeRozan (@DeMar_DeRozan) <a href="https://twitter.com/DeMar_DeRozan/status/964818383303688197?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2018</a></blockquote> 


"It's one of them things that no matter how indestructible we look like we are, we're all human at the end of the day," <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/22582972/demar-derozan-toronto-raptors-depression-fight-all-human" target="_blank">said DeRozan.</a> 

NBA Champion and Cleveland Cavaliers forward <a href="https://www.theplayerstribune.com/articles/kevin-love-everyone-is-going-through-something" target="_blank">Kevin Love also spoke about his panic attacks, anxiety and depression</a> which further opened the conversation about the stigma surrounding mental health. And last year, pop star <a href="https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/justin-bieber-justice-new-album-billboard-cover-story-2021-9537735/" target="_blank">Justin Bieber spoke about his struggle with success</a>, revealing he needed to work on his mental health like he does his music. 

As for Mendes, he says he’ll be making new music, and is looking to tour in the future. “I promise I will be back as soon as I’ve taken the right time to heal. I love you all and thank you all so much for supporting me and sticking by me on this journey.”

Thank you Shawn for speaking out.

Shawn Mendes Just Stood Up for Mental Health — Here's Why it Matters

As the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics prepare to showcase 16 different sports — from snowboarding and speed skating to skiing and curling — it's worth remembering that not every sport has enjoyed such staying power. Some, like dog sledding and ski ballet, had their Olympic moments and then quietly faded from view.

Many of these now-forgotten events started as demonstration sports. Olympic historian Bill Mallon explains that the tradition dates back to the very first Winter Games in 1924 and became especially common after World War II. “There were sort of two demonstration sports at most Olympics: one of which was usually a sport that was sort of specific to the host country that wasn't on the program yet, and the other one was a sport that the [International Olympic Committee] were sort of trialing,” he told Rachel Goes to the Games.

The idea was to test out new sports, spotlight local traditions, and sometimes gauge international interest. Some, like curling and women’s speed skating, made the leap to official Olympic status. Others never returned after their debut. 

Here’s a look at a few that once had their Olympic day in the snow:

Skijoring
Think of it as ski racing meets rodeo. Skijoring (from the Norwegian for “ski driving”) features a skier being pulled across snow by a horse, dog team, or even a snowmobile. The version showcased at the 1928 Games in St. Moritz involved horses pulling skiers across a frozen lake. Sweden swept the medals. While it hasn’t returned to the Olympics, skijoring remains popular in parts of the U.S. and Scandinavia — especially in states like Wyoming and Colorado.

Dog Sledding
Dog sled racing made its Olympic appearance at the 1932 Lake Placid Games. Thirteen mushers from the U.S. and Canada raced over a 25-mile course across two days, with tired dogs occasionally riding in the sleds instead of pulling them. The sport was meant to celebrate its North American roots and drew big crowds, but never came back. Today, dog sledding thrives in events like Alaska’s Iditarod and the Yukon Quest.

Bandy
An early cousin of ice hockey, bandy involves skating on a large rink while using curved sticks to move a small ball into the opposing goal. Though it appeared as a demonstration sport at the 1952 Oslo Games, bandy has deep roots — modern versions go back to 19th-century England, and cave paintings suggest ancient origins. After Oslo, the Soviet Union and several Nordic countries formalized the sport with its own federation. It’s still popular in Scandinavia and has a small following in Minnesota.

Ski Ballet
Also known as “acroski,” this sport was like figure skating on skis — athletes performed choreographed routines to music, with judges scoring them on spins, flips, and style. Emerging from the freestyle skiing movement of the 1960s and ’70s, ski ballet was a demonstration sport in 1988 and 1992. Despite never making it onto the official roster, its DNA lives on in modern events like slopestyle and big air.

Demonstration sports were officially phased out after the 1992 Winter Games — the last time the Summer and Winter Olympics were held in the same year. Since then, new Olympic events have had to meet stricter requirements around gender equity, anti-doping compliance, and global appeal.

That shift has led to the inclusion of sports like snowboarding, freestyle skiing, and most recently, breakdancing. But Mallon says there’s still room for the past to re-emerge. He’d personally like to see the return of skijoring and sled dog racing, both of which reflect unique winter cultures and traditions.

Today’s Winter Games still feature just half the number of events seen at the Summer Olympics. But if history is any guide, what’s on the roster in 2026 might not be there in 2030 — and vice versa.

Dog Sledding, Ski Ballet, and Skijoring: The Winter Olympic Sports That Didn’t Stick Around

The Cool Down

Boston is moving ahead with an ambitious plan to draw heat from the Charles River to warm buildings across the city—part of a broader effort to ditch fossil fuels and lower carbon emissions using existing infrastructure.

The project is led by Vicinity Energy, which operates one of the country’s oldest steam heating networks. The company is now overhauling that system to run on electricity, including heat pumps that will tap into the river to extract ambient warmth. The goal is to power millions of square feet of buildings with a renewable, low-emission heat source.

“That project was greenlit this summertime,” Vicinity CEO Kevin Hagerty told Canary Media. “We’re anticipating that being completed midway through 2028. We’ll turn the heat pump on and turn the Charles River into a renewable energy resource.”

Once complete, the system could serve as a model for other cities looking to decarbonize dense urban areas without ripping out entire heating systems. By using the Charles River as a heat reservoir, Vicinity aims to slash air pollution, reduce reliance on natural gas, and make use of infrastructure that’s been in place for over a century.

The transition involves replacing fossil-fuel-based equipment with large electric boilers and river-sourced heat pumps that provide thermal energy through the city’s existing steam distribution pipes. Heat pumps work by pulling low-level heat from a source like water or air and concentrating it to a higher temperature using electricity. In this case, the Charles River will provide a consistent and renewable heat source even in cold months.

Boston’s heating network is one of several district energy systems in North America—centralized grids that deliver heating or cooling from a single source to multiple buildings. Vicinity’s network in Boston currently serves hospitals, universities, government buildings, and office towers. Modernizing it to run on clean energy has long been seen as a critical part of Boston’s climate goals.

The shift could dramatically lower emissions for buildings served by the system, which would otherwise rely on gas or oil-based heating. Vicinity has said its broader plan is to fully decarbonize its operations by 2050, with major progress made well before then.

While drawing energy from a river might sound unconventional, the concept is grounded in existing science. Similar systems already operate in cities like Helsinki and Stockholm, where seawater or lake water is used to heat buildings. By combining that approach with electricity from renewable sources, Boston could be one of the first major U.S. cities to follow suit.

The Charles River plan is still a few years out, with a projected operational date in 2028. But it marks a major shift in how cities can reimagine old infrastructure to meet modern environmental challenges—without tearing up roads or disrupting entire neighborhoods.

For Boston, it could be a win on multiple fronts: cleaner air, lower carbon emissions, and a heating system powered not by gas pipelines, but by the river that flows through its heart.

Boston Unveils Plan To Transform Charles River Into Renewable Energy Source

People

Brody, the enormous rescue dog whose size drew comparisons to a “small polar bear,” has finally found his perfect match — and it’s as heartwarming as his viral fame.

The six-year-old Pyrenean Mountain Dog, also known as a Great Pyrenees, captured hearts across the U.K. after Animal Concern Cumbria shared his story in December. Weighing around 145 pounds and towering at six feet tall on his hind legs, Brody quickly became a viral sensation. His gentle personality and massive appetite — he eats nearly 2.2 pounds of food daily — sparked hundreds of adoption inquiries from around the country.

But it was Steve and Helen White, a couple from Cornwall, who ultimately won the chance to bring Brody home. With a half-acre garden, experience with the breed, and a house full of other animals — including chickens, a rabbit, and even a Canadian goose — they were the ideal fit.

“When Wilson died, we were looking to get another Pyrenean like him,” Helen told The Packet, referring to the couple’s previous dog, who passed away in October 2025 at the age of 13. They discovered Brody’s story through a friend at the Pyrenean Mountain Dog Club of Great Britain and applied, thinking they had “no chance.”

The Whites made the 440-mile round trip from St Austell to Egremont twice — first for a video home check and meet-and-greet, and then for the official adoption. After bonding with Brody on long walks through the Wasdale fells, they brought him home on January 3.

Since arriving in Cornwall, Brody has embraced his new life with enthusiasm. On day one, he leapt into the duck pond and emerged covered in weeds. Since then, he’s developed a fondness for beach runs, stream paddles, and garden adventures. He’s also fitting in well with the family’s other animals.

“He’s starting the year exactly where he belongs,” said Lauren Pickthall, rehoming manager at Animal Concern Cumbria.

Brody now even has his own Instagram account, where fans can follow his adventures as he adjusts to life in the countryside — proving that for this gentle giant, the best chapter is just beginning.

Massive 145-Pound Dog Finds Loving Home After Winning Hearts Nationwide

What began as a spontaneous photo opportunity nearly turned deadly for a 35-year-old man in Indianapolis, who fell through the ice of a retention pond and spent more than 20 minutes in freezing water before being rescued.

According to the Indianapolis Fire Department, the man had been driving late at night when he noticed colorful lights glowing from a working fountain in the pond at Holcomb Gardens, located on the Butler University campus. Thinking it would make a great photo, he parked his car — leaving it running — and ran approximately 60 yards toward the fountain.

Despite visible patches of open water and what responders described as “no ice conditions” in parts of the pond, he continued walking on the ice. When he got close to the fountain, the ice suddenly gave way beneath him. Fire officials noted that ice is always weakest near a working fountain due to the constant movement of water.

The man plunged into the 10-foot-deep pond but managed to keep his upper body out of the water by pressing his arms onto the surface of the ice. Fortunately, his phone was still in his hand, and he was able to call 911.

Butler University police were first to arrive and attempted to toss him a rope bag, but couldn’t pull him free. Soon after, firefighters and the department’s tactical rescue team, which is specially trained for ice rescues, arrived on scene.

Two rescuers moved quickly onto the ice — one entered the freezing water to reach the victim and secured him using an ice rescue sling. Working together, the team pulled the man to safety and off the ice within minutes.

The man was transported to Methodist Hospital in critical condition but has since been upgraded to stable. Fire officials estimate he spent 20 to 25 minutes in the frigid water — a length of time that could easily have been fatal.

“He is extraordinarily fortunate he survived the deadly conditions he put himself in,” the department said.

Officials used the close call as a warning: ice near fountains or flowing water is especially dangerous and unpredictable. The fire department urged the public to admire winter views from a safe distance and avoid putting themselves at risk for a photograph.

Heroic Lifeguards Save Man After Selfie Stunt Goes Awry

Even in his final days, Vincent Giannotti never stopped building — or giving.

The Tecumseh, Ontario man, known for crafting intricate dollhouses for children with serious health conditions, died on January 28 after a five-year battle with cancer. He was 74.

Giannotti had been diagnosed with Stage 4 prostate cancer during the pandemic. But instead of slowing down, he picked up his tools and began building. His goal wasn’t just to stay busy — it was to make kids smile. He completed 49 custom dollhouses over the last few years. And with the help of family and friends, he finished the 50th just before he passed.

“He's always made us a part of everything he's done, like right until the final hours,” said his daughter Jackie Amaro in an interview with CBC Radio’s Windsor Morning. “But I will say it was the first time he let me use the tools,” she added with a smile.

Giannotti had spent decades as a plumber and project manager. But in retirement — and facing terminal illness — he found a new calling in woodworking, pouring meticulous care into each dollhouse. “I love seeing these kids happy,” he told CBC News in 2024. “It really is better to give than receive. It's really gratifying.”

His work didn’t go unnoticed. Students at an elementary school in LaSalle, Ont., were so inspired they launched a woodworking club in his honour.

Vincent’s daughters, Jackie and Natalie Giannotti, say the final dollhouse project gave their father something to hold onto when things became difficult.

“There was a moment where he really recognized that his days were limited,” said Natalie. “It dawned on him he could keep doing what he wanted to do, with help, and he perked right up. The smile came back, the life came back, the drive came back.”

An audio recording taken shortly before his passing captured one of his final messages: “Enjoy your days, enjoy your time, enjoy everything,” he said, his oxygen tank humming softly in the background. “I always enjoyed being around everyone in my life.”

“He was always intentional,” said Jackie. “Everything was with purpose. That was all the way through even his last day.”

Vincent Giannotti is survived by four children and four grandchildren. His family describes him as a man full of love, joy and curiosity — someone who loved swing dancing, casinos, music, poetry, and the outdoors.

“He inspired you and he valued everybody,” said Natalie. “Everyone had a job to do. Everyone was valuable.”

“Vince Giannotti is love… pure love.”

Ontario Toy Builder Completes 50th Dollhouse for Sick Kids, Just Days Before His Passing

For Vance Kirkwood, what started as a spontaneous photo has become a cherished family tradition — and now, a viral celebration of fatherhood that’s touching hearts around the world.

The 35-year-old Michigan dad of four is gaining widespread attention for an annual picture he takes with his eldest son, Vance Jr., now 7. The photo series began seven years ago when Vance, then a brand-new dad after years of infertility struggles, tucked his infant son into his coat while running out to the car. A friend snapped a photo of baby Vance’s head poking out, and the moment became a family favorite.

“It ended up being an adorable picture that we loved and cherished,” Vance tells PEOPLE. After sharing it online, the image resonated with people — and the couple decided to recreate the photo every year.

Now, the “coat pic” has become a staple in the Kirkwood household, taken every December just before Christmas. “We all know that as Christmas approaches, so does the time to take our 'coat pic,’” Vance says.

Looking back on the annual photos brings out deep emotion for the proud father. “It makes me realize how much he has grown and brings to life the saying, ‘the days are long, but the years are short,’” he says. “That baby we prayed for and wanted so badly is growing up right before our eyes.”

Vance and his wife Essence have since welcomed three more children — Maisyn, 10 months; Ellis, 3; and Karsyn, 5 — but it’s the father-son tradition with Vance Jr. that has become the centerpiece of their story.

Vance Jr. now looks forward to the tradition as much as his dad does. “He went from being clueless about it to smiling big,” Vance says. “He looks forward to it just as much as I do.”

The Kirkwoods plan to display the photos at future milestones — from graduations to Vance Jr.’s wedding — and preserve them in digital and physical albums. “The hope is that he will keep the tradition alive with his own son too,” Vance says.

When Essence posted a video of her husband and son prepping for their latest photo on TikTok, it exploded. Millions of views and emotional comments poured in. “It crossed age, gender, race, and political borders,” Vance says. “It hit us all in the feels in the same way.”

Essence says the reaction meant everything to their family. “Those words could not be more true,” she says of commenters praising the love and kindness visible in the photos. “Vance is truly a loving, present, active father and husband. And Vance II is genuinely a compassionate, kind, thoughtful, sweet son and brother.”

“It made our hearts happy,” she adds, “to be able to provide a bit of positivity and love to so many people.”

Dad’s Annual ‘Coat Pic’ with Son Becomes Viral Tradition Celebrating Fatherhood and Family

ABC - Australia

At 4am, while most of Alice Springs is still asleep, Jessica Coombe is already at the gym. It's the only quiet moment she gets in a day packed with work, school drop-offs and parenting four kids. And it's when she's at her happiest — lifting heavy, surrounded by chalk dust and clanging metal.

“I get up at 3am and I head to the gym at 4am. I spend two hours in there in my happy place, just lifting,” she said.

Coombe is a powerlifter. On Saturday, she’ll compete in her first-ever meet, held hundreds of kilometres away in Bulli, south of Sydney. Her goal isn’t to win — not yet, anyway. It’s about getting a feel for competition and starting something bigger.

“This meet that I'm going to is the regionals, but it opens the door for nationals and internationals,” she said. “It'd be lovely to get to nationals one day.”

Her current lifting total is 270kg: an 80kg squat, 60kg bench press and 130kg deadlift. But the numbers only tell part of her story.

Four years ago, Coombe weighed 220kg. A traumatic birth with her fourth child nearly cost them both their lives. Afterwards, her doctor told her to make a change.

What started as a weight loss journey soon turned into something more.

“I just love feeling strong,” she said. “When you're looking at the weights on the bar and they look like a lot, then you actually pick it up — it's a really good feeling.”

She’s since lost 115kg, and says the physical transformation has brought a whole new lease on life.

“I feel really active, energetic. I can keep up with my kids now. They love it. We go bike riding, we go to the park — it’s great.”

Coombe hopes her story inspires more women, especially in Alice Springs, to pick up a barbell. She’s already invited others to train with her and dreams of one day hosting competitions in the outback town.

“Come and join me. We can build up a strong community of women lifting and then maybe one day we'll have our own comps here,” she said.

It’s not such a far-fetched goal. Powerlifting Australia’s Robert Wilks said it had been nearly 25 years since a sanctioned event was held in the Northern Territory — but that could soon change.

“We used to have competitions in Alice Springs and Darwin somewhat sporadically, then it just faded away,” he said. “We're looking to get started in the territory mid to late this year.”

According to Wilks, women are one of the sport’s fastest-growing demographics. Once only 5 per cent of members, they now make up as much as 40 per cent of Powerlifting Australia.

“Powerlifting Australia wants everyone in Australia to take up the sport because it’s the most healthy thing you can do,” he said. “We particularly want women to take up the sport.”

The physical benefits are well documented — improved bone density, muscular strength, and even reduced risks of chronic disease. But Coombe says the emotional and cultural strength she’s found is just as important.

“Going in solo was very scary for me, but I overcame my fears,” she said. “It’s definitely different for women in the gym because you see all the men around and they’re screaming and they’re moving some really heavy weights, which can be very intimidating.

“But I just want to say to all the ladies — take up the space. Don’t be ashamed. Don’t be afraid. Go up to the gym bros, they’re big teddy bears, I swear.”

These days, she says her kids are her biggest cheerleaders.

“They do say all the time, like, ‘Oh, my mum’s so strong’. I’m like, ‘Yeah, that’s great, but I’m not just strong in my body, I’m strong in my mind and strong in my culture as well’,” she said.

“It’s been an incredible journey — and I’m definitely not done yet.”

Mom Turns Weight Loss Into Powerlifting Passion — Now She’s Eyeing Nationals

Upworthy

Most of us have misplaced a library book or returned one a few days (or weeks) late. But 36 years? That’s a record-breaker — and a heartwarming one at that.

Late last year, staff at Chantilly Regional Library in Virginia received a surprise: a well-worn but intact copy of Harry the Dirty Dog — a children’s classic — returned nearly four decades after it was first checked out in 1989.

Along with the book came a handwritten note from Dimitris Economou, who explained how the book had circled the globe since the day his diplomat parents borrowed it for him when he was five.

“This book was checked out Nov. 6, 1989 by my parents who were diplomats based in DC at the time,” the note read. “They are now retired in Greece and I found this book on their shelves. It traveled the world and was well taken care of as you can see. And now it can find its way home.”

Economou only realized the book was overdue when he pulled it off the shelf to read to his own son, now seven years old. “As we got to the end, I realized it was a library book,” he told Northern Virginia Magazine. “The moment I saw it, I felt like I had to return it. It just felt like the right thing to do.”

Over the years, Harry the Dirty Dog had made stops in Syria, the Netherlands, Japan, and eventually Athens, Greece — riding out three decades of family moves before quietly landing back in its original home in Fairfax County.

“We collected the book back with huge smiles,” the library posted on Facebook, sharing a photo of the returned copy and note. “Thank you to Dimitris' parents for taking such good care of our book and to Dimitris for helping the book find its way back to our shelves.”

There were no fines involved — Chantilly Regional Library is now a fine-free library — so Harry simply got reshelved for the next kid to enjoy.

For Ingrid Bowers, the library’s branch manager, the story underscores a simple but powerful truth. “People really care about library books,” she told The Washington Post. “And this kind of proves it.”

In an age when attention spans are short and physical books can feel overlooked, the gesture reminded many of the enduring spirit of libraries — and the quiet, mutual trust that keeps them running.

Public libraries offer far more than just books these days: tool libraries, language classes, museum passes, job search help. But at their heart, they remain a place built on a simple agreement — borrow something, and bring it back.

Even if it takes 36 years.

Returned After 36 Years, Beloved Library Book Finds Its Way Home

BBC News

What started as a simple birthday wish turned into a global outpouring of love — and a record-breaking moment for a young girl facing one of the toughest battles of her life.

Amelia Kolpa, a seven-year-old from Rowley Regis in the UK, has spent much of her childhood in and out of hospital with neuroblastoma, a rare cancer. For her upcoming eighth birthday on March 3, she had one goal: to receive 8,000 birthday cards and break the UK record.

She didn’t just beat it — she smashed it.

More than 60,000 cards have now been delivered to Amelia, including many arriving in the back of three vans driven by a convoy of bikers. Hundreds of motorcyclists, including members of the Hells Angels, rode from a collection point in Stourbridge to Amelia’s home on Thursday to deliver the latest batch.

“It took us probably double the time it usually would — about 40 minutes with 2,000 bikes,” said Matt Lem, one of the organisers and a Hells Angels member. “All she wanted was birthday cards.”

Lem, who helped spearhead the appeal, said cards poured in from across the UK and far beyond — with some postmarked from Canada, the US, New Zealand, and Australia.

“We collected 60,000, or in excess of 60,000,” he said. “It snowballed. I’m overwhelmed by the response.”

Amelia's aunt, Charmaine Grace, said the family had already stored 23,000 cards from an earlier appeal and were stunned by the surge in support from around the world.

“There’s so much love and support,” she said. “It’s nice to know that everyone out there is with us on this journey, and there’s still humanity in the world.”

Amelia is currently receiving palliative care while awaiting a spot on a clinical trial, where she’s number 60 on the list. Despite everything, her aunt says she’s been “really smiley and happy,” and that the massive birthday card delivery lifted her spirits even more.

“She’s going to open them and we’re going to do a massive collage to put on the wall to mark that we’ve done her wish again,” Grace said. “We’ve granted another wish — so thanks everyone.”

What began as a hopeful request has turned into a beautiful reminder of how many people are willing to show up for a child they’ve never met — one card at a time.

More Than 60,000 Birthday Cards Delivered to UK Girl with Cancer in Heartfelt World Record Attempt

The 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games opened with a lavish, multisite celebration of Italian culture, harmony, and music — and an emotional farewell to one of sport’s most iconic stadiums.

With more than 1,200 performers across four venues, Italy put on a show as ambitious as it was elegant. The centerpiece unfolded at Milan’s 99-year-old San Siro stadium, which is scheduled to be demolished by 2032. Fittingly, the Olympic spotlight served as a grand sendoff.

“The San Siro was always full of emotions,” said former AC Milan player and manager Fabio Capello earlier this week. “For me, San Siro is history. San Siro is life. San Siro is a monument.”

Few would argue after Friday night’s spectacle. From a catwalk of models draped in the Italian flag to spine-tingling musical numbers, the Opening Ceremony pulled off a balancing act between tradition and forward-thinking — much like the Games themselves, which are being held across several locations, including Milan, Cortina, Livigno, and Predazzo.

The ceremony’s theme, “Armonia” (Harmony), was woven through every element. From the simultaneous lighting of cauldrons in Milan’s Arco della Pace and Cortina’s Piazza Angelo Dibona, to the real-time athlete parades across four locations, organizers emphasized unity across distance, ideas, and people.

Music was a driving force. Andrea Bocelli brought down the house with a powerful rendition of “Nessun Dorma,” his voice echoing through the rafters of San Siro in a moment that felt operatic in every sense. Earlier, Mariah Carey took center stage for a soaring version of “Volare” followed by “Nothing is Impossible,” delivered in full diva mode before her entourage whisked her off.

In the stands, some fans were left puzzled by the gaps in San Siro’s seating arrangement, but the visuals — bright, bold, and tightly choreographed — kept most eyes on the field. The director cut seamlessly between venues, ensuring athletes marching in Cortina or Livigno received the same attention as those in Milan.

The ceremony didn’t shy away from the realities of a tense global backdrop. Before the TV broadcast began, the crowd at San Siro was shown a video message from UN Secretary General António Guterres. Giovanni Malagò, president of the local organizing committee, reinforced the peace-through-sport message, saying: “At a time when so much of the world is divided by conflict, your very presence demonstrates that another world is possible. One of unity, respect and harmony.”

Ukraine’s athletes drew one of the loudest cheers of the night. “Politics and sport don't exist in separate spheres,” said IOC president Kirsty Coventry earlier this week. “But our game is sport. That means keeping sport a neutral ground. A place where every athlete can compete freely, without being held back by the politics or divisions of their governments.”

That sentiment may be tested over the coming weeks, especially given growing tensions in Sudan, Myanmar, Haiti and the Middle East. But on opening night, the Olympic flame — or flames, in this case — did its job: it lit up the Italian sky with hope, harmony, and a reminder of what global cooperation can still look like.

For now, let the Games begin.

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