Winter Olympics exhibition offers a glimpse behind the opening ceremony in Milan

An exhibition that opened Thursday in Milan features a behind-the-scenes look at the moments preceding the Winter Olympics opening ceremony.

“REHEARSAL — Before the Applause,” at Palazzo Castiglioni, features 39 images taken by Italian photographer Giampaolo Sgura, who was granted rare access to intimate moments involving more than 1,200 volunteers during dress rehearsals ahead of the Feb. 6 opening ceremony.

“These volunteers are all together to perform, so I think it is all connected to the spirit of sports and in this case the Olympics,” Sgura told The Associated Press in an interview. “Maybe they don’t have to perform to win, but for the sake of creating something emotionally entertaining and beautiful.”

Sgura, a renowned fashion photographer who has worked for magazines such as Vogue and brands like Dolce&Gabbana, said working with subjects not used to being photographed offered him a different perspective on human nature.

“The main thing I was photographing was their passion, their professionalism, their desire to be there and communicate a sense of happiness,” he added.

His photographs, displayed on the stairs of the palace located in Milan’s Porta Venezia district, showcase performers in bright, intricately designed costumes, while designers, creative directors, stagehands and craftspeople work to ensure the ceremony unfolds seamlessly. It runs through Feb. 17.

Behind the exhibit is the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland. Its director, Angelita Teo, told the AP that Sgura’s photographs are key to conveying how the effort and dedication of hundreds of people make the spectacular event possible.

“We really value volunteers at the Olympic movement and this is a way for us to give back to them,” Teo said. “The Olympic movement is always about more than competition. It is about humanity, about people coming together and making something that will make a difference.”

The show fits into the museum’s ongoing efforts to interpret Olympic values through contemporary art. Once it closes in Milan, on Feb. 17, the photographs will become part of its permanent collection.

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AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

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