From Torino to Milano Cortina: Andrea Bocelli’s Voice Defines Italy’s Olympic Soul Across Two Decades

A Full-Circle Journey in Song

Andrea Bocelli has become more than a tenor—he is the living soundtrack of Italy’s Olympic spirit. Twenty years after his emotional performance at the Torino 2006 Closing Ceremony, the 67-year-old legend returned to captivate the world at the Opening Ceremony of Milano Cortina 2026. In Turin, he sang the original anthem “Because We Believe (Ama Credi E Vai),” a hopeful farewell that became forever linked to the city and its people. In Milan, he delivered a majestic rendition of “Nessun Dorma,” the soaring aria that filled the Olympic Stadium with triumph as the cauldron was lit, marking the perfect beginning to a new era.

The contrast tells a deeper story. Torino’s performance symbolized unity and hope at the end of a Games; Milano Cortina’s was a powerful invocation of excellence and anticipation at the start. Both moments showcased Bocelli’s unmatched ability to transcend sport, turning ceremonies into shared human experiences. Surrounded by athletes and a grand orchestra, his voice in 2026 reminded the world why music and sport remain universal languages of passion and community.

Sport as Art, Bocelli as Italy’s Heart

Bocelli has performed at countless landmark sporting events—UEFA Champions League finals, FIFA World Cup draws, Roger Federer’s retirement, even Leicester City’s miracle title party—but his Olympic appearances hold special weight. “Sport is always beautiful, because it carries commitment, passion and a spirit of community,” he wrote on Instagram. “When it reaches excellence, it becomes a pure form of art.” His presence at both Winter Games bookends two decades of Italian Olympic pride, proving that some voices never fade—they only grow more powerful.

From the intimate hope of 2006 to the triumphant roar of 2026, Bocelli has not just sung at the Olympics—he has defined them for a nation.