Organisers of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics have confirmed that parts of the opening ceremony were pre-recorded, following widespread online speculation about Mariah Carey’s performance. Debate intensified after viewers questioned whether the singer had lip-synced during her appearance at San Siro, where she performed Nel Blu, dipinto di Blu in Italian, followed by her own song Nothing Is Impossible.
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Social media discussion grew after organisers initially declined to confirm whether Carey had sung live. In response, a spokesperson for Milano-Cortina 2026 explained that the scale and complexity of an Olympic ceremony differs significantly from a standard live concert by a single artist. The event requires strict coordination between performers, speakers, choreography and broadcast schedules.
According to organisers, some elements are therefore pre-recorded to guarantee precise timing, consistent sound quality and a smooth global transmission. This approach, they said, is necessary to manage the technical and logistical demands of an international ceremony watched by millions worldwide.
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Addressing the controversy, Maria Laura Iascone of the organising committee praised Carey’s contribution, describing her performance as exceptional. She added that the organisers were highly satisfied with the appearance and confirmed that Carey did not receive payment for taking part in the ceremony.
