The opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics offered a moment suspended between sport, culture and fine jewellery. On the world stage, Mariah Carey embodied absolute glamour, draped in exceptional diamonds. It was an already iconic appearance, in an Olympic context charged with emotion and marked, on the French side, by the gold medal won yesterday by France in the relay, symbolising a highly intense start to the Games.
A cultural performance and a showcase of light
To officially open the Winter Olympics, a global event watched by millions of television viewers, Mariah Carey performed the classic ‘Nel blu, dipinto di blu’ (Volare) in Italian, followed by ‘Nothing Is Impossible,’ on stage at the San Siro stadium in Milan. This powerful moment was enhanced by an aesthetic parade in which the singer embodied the height of glamour.
A fine jewellery set by LEVUMA
At the heart of this tableau was an exceptional jewellery creation featuring a series of diamonds totalling over 306 carats, made specifically for the occasion by the Belgian fine jewellery house Levuma.
Details of the set
- Monumental necklace: a double row of emerald-cut diamonds culminating in a 20-carat centre stone, for a total of approximately 185 carats.
- Matching earrings: emerald-cut emeralds totalling 66 carats.
- Bespoke bracelet: 55 carats of sparkling diamonds set in precious platinum.
Entirely handcrafted in Antwerp, each diamond has been meticulously selected for its quality, purity and ability to capture light. According to founder and artistic director Ali Khalil, this set represents the very essence of true luxury: emotion, discretion and timeless beauty.
An aesthetic by Roberto Cavalli
This exceptional piece of jewellery was paired with a bespoke white strapless dress by Roberto Cavalli and an angelic-inspired feather stole, creating a subtle contrast between the impeccable simplicity of the outfit and the incomparable sparkle of the jewellery. The result was a look that was both spiritual and sumptuous, perfectly suited to a sporting event but deeply rooted in the aesthetics of contemporary luxury.
Focus on France: the medal tally finally gets underway in Milan-Cortina
For France, the 2026 Winter Olympics really got underway when the country opened its medal tally. After a silver medal in the skiathlon, a premier event combining endurance and strategy, the French delegation climbed to 7th place in the medal table, confirming a solid and promising start to the competition. This is a strong signal for Les Bleus, who are entering these Games with the ambition of making Milan-Cortina 2026 a landmark event for French Olympic sport.
Translated by Bethszabee Garner
