VIDEO SHOWS: REHEARSALS FOR OPENING CEREMONY OF 2026 WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES INSIDE TEMPORARY TENT / TAILORS WORKING ON CEREMONY COSTUMES / COMMENTS FROM CEREMONIES DIRECTOR, MARIA LAURA IASCONE, AND COSTUME DESIGNER, MASSIMO CANTINI PARRINI SHOTLIST ONLY, COMPLETE SCRIPT TO FOLLOW SHOWS: MILAN, ITALY (JANUARY 28, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all) 1. STAFF MEMBER ENTERING ROOM, DANCERS TALKING INSIDE 2. VARIOUS OF DANCERS TALKING 3. DANCERS TAKING THEIR PLACES ON REHEARSAL STAGE INSIDE TEMPORARY TENT 4. STAFF MEMBER LOOKING ON 5. DANCERS TAKING STARTING POSITION 6. DANCERS STANDING IN STARTING POSITION AS MUSIC BEGINS 7. VARIOUS OF DANCERS PERFORMING 8. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) CEREMONIES DIRECTOR, MARIA LAURA IASCONE, SAYING: "We will recount the two different souls of these Olympic Games, namely the city and the mountains. In telling the story of the city, Milan of course, we will pay great tribute to what Milan represents in the world of fashion and design, but the greatest tribute will naturally be to Italian culture in a much broader sense, so we will tell our story in an extremely contemporary way, even playful, because the ceremony should also make people smile." 9. VARIOUS OF DANCERS DURING REHEARSALS 10. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) CEREMONIES DIRECTOR, MARIA LAURA IASCONE, SAYING: "Having two cauldrons will somehow double the excitement of lighting the flame, so Milan and Cortina, the two host cities of the Games, will take centre stage in the final moment when this wonderful cauldron is lit. That moment will be a spectacle within the spectacle, so we will create this magical moment, paying tribute to the sacredness of that flame, which represents the values of sport and marks the beginning of the Olympic Games in all territories." 11. VARIOUS OF STAFF MEMBER CHECKING COSTUMES 12. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) COSTUME DESIGNER, MASSIMO CANTINI PARRINI, SAYING: "Italianness is, let's say, what we have pursued as much as possible, not looking at fashion, but more at the past as a concept. We hope we have succeeded, because it is not easy, of course." 13. TAPE MEASURE AND THREADS ON TAILOR'S COUNTER 14. VARIOUS OF TAILORS SEWING COSTUMES 15. TAILOR CHECKING COSTUME 16. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) COSTUME DESIGNER, MASSIMO CANTINI PARRINI, SAYING: "The numbers I haven't counted, but there are thousands of pieces, absolutely thousands, because there are so many kids and a suit isn't just made up of one piece, so there are thousands and thousands of pieces." 17. VARIOUS OF TAILORS USING SEWING MACHINES 18. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) CEREMONIES DIRECTOR, MARIA LAURA IASCONE, SAYING: "We have been very careful with the budget, and everyone's experience has certainly contributed to this: we have calibrated our expenses very, very carefully, so this ceremony does not cost much more than the budget for Turin 2006 twenty years ago. We have been very careful not to waste money and not to aim for spectacular spending; we have focused more on content and on the depth of the emotions that we will create." 19. DANCERS WEARING BLANKET, TAKING SEAT AFTER REHEARSAL 20. VARIOUS OF DANCERS TALKING AFTER REHEARSAL 21. (SOUNDBITE) (English) VOLUNTARY PERFORMER ORIGINALLY FROM JAPAN AND WORKING IN ITALY, ARIEL FUCHS, SAYING: "I'm super excited. I'm a little bit nervous, but honestly, everyone's been putting in so much hard work that it's gonna look so good, so I'm really excited. A little bit nervous (laughs)." 22. EXTERIOR OF TEMPORARY TENT, SAN SIRO STADIUM ON BACKGROUND 23. SIGNS READING (Italian): "No entry" 24. EXTERIOR OF TENT 25. DANCERS PERFORMING DURING REHEARSAL 26. VARIOUS OF STAFF MEMBERS SHIFTING PROPS 27. VARIOUS OF DANCERS PERFORMING 28. VARIOUS OF DANCERS STANDING ON STAGE AS REHEARSAL ENDS
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