Issued on: 05/02/2026 - 19:04

Final preparations are in full swing ahead of the official opening of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics on Friday, with several preliminary and qualification events, including ice hockey and curling, already under way. On Thursday, US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Milan to attend the opening ceremony, as heightened security measures are put in place while international delegations and heads of state gather in the city, our Italy correspondent Seema Gupta explains.

Keywords for this article

'Italian opposition fragmented: No alternative leader, no other possible leader than Giorgia Meloni'

Strength of Meloni less linked to policy, more about her party's dominance within govt coalition

Mount Etna continues to erupt in Italy

Spain - Italy: Dispute grows over migration between EU countries

Spain starts border checks on Italy over Ceuta dispute

Across the EU, immigration being used as a 'political tool' across the political spectrum

Italian media reports US top diplomat Rubio to meet Pope Leo

Venice Biennale jury resigns against participation of Russia and Israel

Trump-Meloni relationship turns sour

Day of zero waste: International Chef Massimo Bottura speaks to France 24

The content you requested does not exist or is not available anymore.