Tight security in Verona as Italian city prepares to host Winter Olympics closing ceremony

Описание: (21 Feb 2026)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Verona, Italy - 21 February 2026
1. Wide of the Verona Arena where the Winter Olympics closing ceremony will be held
2. Venue staff at the entrance to the arena
3. People walking by the arena
4. Various of the entrance to the Verona Arena
5. Various of police standing at the entrance to the arena
6. SOUNDBITE (Italian) Alessandra Torreggiani, visiting from Parma:
"So we are here to have a weekend and we are two friends, but we didn't know that it would be the end (of the Olympics). In other words, we didn't notice that it was the weekend of the final of the Olympics, but we like them, at least I follow them, but we didn't come here for this reason."
7. Various of police standing and patrolling
8. Woman taking a photo
9. SOUNDBITE (Italian) Gianluca Zucca, visiting from Pavia:
"It's a nice event, it promotes friendship, sport, so it's something that produces positivity, in short, a good thing."
10. Wide of the Verona Arena
11. Various of people walking by the arena
STORYLINE:
Verona will host the final act of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics on Sunday inside the ancient Roman arena, where some 1,500 athletes will celebrate their feats against a backdrop of Italian music and dance.

Acclaimed ballet dancer Roberto Bolle has been rehearsing for the closing ceremony inside the Arena di Verona this week under a veil of secrecy, along with some 350 volunteers.

Other headlining Italian artists include singer Achille Lauro and DJ Gabry Ponte, whose hits could be heard blasting from the Arena during rehearsals this week.

Tourists from around Italy gathered in front of the arena, some of them unaware that on Sunday, the city will host the Olympics closing ceremony.

"We are here to have a weekend and we are two friends, but we didn't know that it would be the end (of the Olympics),” said Alessandra Torreggiani, who was visiting Verona from Parma.

The ceremony will open with athletes parading triumphantly through Piazza Bra into the Arena, which once served as a stage for gladiator fights and hunts for exotic beasts.

While the opening ceremony was held in Milan, the other host city, Cortina d’Ampezzo, nestled in the Dolomite mountains, was considered too small and remote to host the closing ceremony.

Italy on Thursday named gold-medal winners Lisa Vittozzi and Davide Ghiotti to carry the Italian flag at the closing ceremony, bringing up the rear of the 92 nations.

One of the key moments of the ceremony is when the Olympic flag is handed over to the next Winter Games host nation, France.

The French flag will then be raised next to Italy’s.

The ceremony will close with the Olympic flames being extinguished in Milan and Cortina, to be viewed via video link.

A light show will substitute fireworks, which are not allowed in Verona to protect animals from being disturbed.

Gianluca Zucca, visiting from Pavia, said he also did not come for the closing ceremony but was happy to be in Verona for the event.

"It's a nice event, it promotes friendship, sport, so it's something that produces positivity, in short, a good thing."

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