Why Verona? Celebrating Australia’s Winter Olympic Success at the 2026 Closing Ceremony

As the 2026 Winter Olympics draw to a close, I found myself asking a question that felt more compelling than the medal tally itself: why Verona?

The Games have unfolded across the Alpine drama of Cortina d’Ampezzo and the modern energy of Milan – snowfields, ski runs and urban arenas forming the expected theatre of a Winter Olympics. Yet the final act will take place in Verona, a city better known for Roman stone and Shakespearean tragedy than downhill speed.

That decision is anything but incidental.

Geography as Symbolism

Verona sits geographically between Milan and Cortina, but more importantly, it sits symbolically between eras. If Cortina represents the purity of winter sport and Milan embodies contemporary Italy – design, commerce and innovation – then Verona represents continuity. It anchors the Games not only in landscape, but in history.

And history, on a global stage, carries weight.

The Enduring Power of the Verona Arena

At the heart of the closing ceremony stands the Verona Arena, often called the “Colosseum of Verona.” Built in the first century AD, this Roman amphitheatre predates most modern nation states. Its pale limestone walls have endured earthquakes and empire shifts, evolving from gladiatorial contests to grand cultural performances. Today it hosts the renowned ‘Arena di Verona’ Opera Festival and is world-renowned for its acoustics.

The Arena is not a relic frozen in time; it is living architecture. It has adapted without losing its essence, and that enduring relevance is precisely why it matters.

Shakespeare, Culture and Global Memory

Its cultural resonance extends even further. Verona is forever associated with Romeo and Juliet, where Shakespeare immortalised the city as a place of passion, conflict and destiny. His choice fixed Verona in the global imagination as a stage for heightened human drama. In many ways, that makes it an unexpectedly perfect setting for an Olympic closing ceremony; an event defined by emotion, triumph, heartbreak and resolution.

The organisers of Milano Cortina 2026 have explicitly stated that the choice of Verona represents a bridge between history and modern innovation. That philosophy is woven through the ceremony itself. Titled “Beauty in Action” (Bellezza in Movimento), the closing celebration has been designed to honour Italian identity while engaging contemporary themes such as climate change and sustainability.

Even the stage design reinforces this symbolism. Inspired by a drop of water, it creates a visual link between the alpine venues and the Po River Valley where Verona and Milan are located – a reminder that geography connects the entire narrative of these Games. Where the Opening Ceremony in Milan’s San Siro Stadium welcomed more than 60,000 spectators, the Verona event has been intentionally conceived as a more intimate celebration for approximately 12,000 spectators and 1,500 athletes. It is less about spectacle at scale and more about resonance.

Australia’s Emerging Winter Identity

Closing ceremonies shape memory. Long after medal counts blur, it is the imagery that endures. By choosing Verona, Italy ensures that the final frame of these Games will be set against nearly two thousand years of civilisation. The Olympic flame will dim beneath arches that have witnessed centuries of performance, reinforcing a subtle but powerful message: achievement may be fleeting, but legacy is built to last.

From an Australian perspective, that symbolism feels particularly resonant.

Our athletes have delivered extraordinary performances at these Winter Games, continuing to reshape global perceptions of what Australia represents in sport. A nation more readily associated with beaches and summer dominance has steadily forged a confident identity on snow and ice. This is no longer novelty. It is progression.

There is something quietly powerful about Australia’s winter ascent being framed within an ancient Roman amphitheatre. A relatively young nation in winter sport stepping forward as the Games conclude inside a structure built long before Australia existed as a modern state. Youth meeting antiquity. Emergence set against endurance.

A Celebration of Legacy

As I write this on Sunday afternoon in Melbourne, the ceremony has yet to unfold in Italy. But its meaning is already clear. Verona is not simply a backdrop; it’s a deliberate choice about how these Games will be remembered.

In celebrating Australia’s remarkable success at these Winter Olympics, it feels fitting that the final image will be set against stone that has endured for centuries. Medals capture a moment. Legacy endures.

Raising a glass of champagne, itself an enduring symbol of celebration and achievement, we honour not just today’s triumphs but the lasting legacy of those who paved the way. A fitting tribute, much like the enduring Verona Arena itself.

Santé 🥂

Sally