The unprecedented four-site, dual-cauldron Milan Cortina Winter Games have officially been declared open at the conclusion of a ceremony replete with references to Italian icons and culture.

The Milan-Cortina Olympics are the first games with two host cities in the name.

A transport strike during an official test event for the Milan-Cortina Olympics highlighted why organizers are negotiating with trade unions to avoid a similar scenario during next year’s Winter Games.

The first hints that this was Italy’s year came when Italian band Maneskin won the popular Eurovision Song Contest in May.