The organisers of the Winter Olympics opening ceremony have refused to deny speculation that US pop diva Mariah Carey lip-synced her performance. Carey sang Domenico Modugno's Nel Blu, dipinto di Blu in Italian, followed by her own song Nothing Is Impossible, but social media users quickly claimed her lip movements were out of sync with the music.
When asked directly whether Carey lip-synced, show director Maria Laura Iascone confirmed a pre-recording had been made but refused to say if it was used. 'During all the ceremonies, in order to be on the safe side, we always record,' she said. 'But this is something that is practised internationally in events with high-level broadcasting.' She insisted she had no complaints, calling the performance 'really extraordinary' and 'fantastic'.
Iascone confirmed Carey was not paid for her appearance. 'We believe that Mariah Carey was exceptional... She was not paid for participation as this was the condition for the opening ceremony,' she said. A Milan-Cortina spokesperson later stated that certain elements were pre-recorded 'to ensure accurate timing, sound quality and a seamless broadcast', citing the complexity of coordinating over 1,300 cast and performers across multiple locations.
Separately, the International Olympic Committee played down boos for US Vice-President JD Vance during the ceremony, noting instead the enthusiastic reception for the US team. IOC spokesperson Mark Adams said there had been 'very good chemistry' between Vance and IOC President Kirsty Coventry during talks about the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
Italian police also reported suspected arson on rail infrastructure near Bologna on Saturday, causing major train disruptions on the first full day of the Games. The fire hit a track switch and severed electrical cables, leading to delays of up to two hours. The transport ministry called it an act of 'serious sabotage', echoing similar attacks during the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
