In the heart of Verona, Italy, is the Arena di Verona, a sort of mini-colosseum. Just to the right of the arena sits a dull, stone rendering of the Olympic Rings installed earlier this month. The rings whisper the promise of the upcoming Olympic Closing Ceremony, which will take place on Sunday at the Arena di Verona.
The closing ceremony seeks to celebrate the diversity of the sprawling 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics and leave fans with a taste of the inspiration and unity that are cultivated by the Olympic Games.
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Verona, the city of love, is the perfect place to hold an event working to spread a message of passion and inclusiveness.
This Italian town is known as the birthplace of Romeo and Juliet, boasting a balcony and a museum which has been dubbed as Juliet’s house. The iconic, romantic play is set in Verona. The themes reflected in Romeo and Juliet, namely passion and dedication, which are imprinted into the city, align almost perfectly with those of the Olympics and the closing ceremony.
“As a city that’s centered around spreading love, I think that’s like the huge message that the Olympics try to portray is just spreading love and bringing a bunch of people together from different backgrounds,” Chloë Gastwirth, a UNC Chapel Hill student studying abroad in Florence, said.
More than the historical city reflecting themes similar to the Olympics, the venue itself was a meaningful choice for the closing ceremony. The Arena di Verona is one of the best-preserved ancient amphitheaters and is now used as a concert venue.
Some fans are already visiting the site of the upcoming closing ceremony. Sarah Ross visited Verona on a day trip from Milan. She was excited that the Olympic Closing Ceremony would be held in the Arena di Verona.
“Epic,” Ross said. “It’s like the Greeks.”
The Arena di Verona will also be the host stadium for the Paralympic Opening Ceremony on March 6.