Time for us to say farewell.

Here's Sam Drury's report on tonight's opening ceremony for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina.

I'm off to sculpt my own papier mache tribute to an Italian operatic master.

Hopefully it'll be finished by 9am, when I'm sure you'll be joining us for the first day of two weeks of fantastic sporting action.

In the meantime, here's some reading to get you prepared:

• Five golds including big air on day one - Saturday's Winter Olympics guide
• Snoop Dogg, selfies and a clean sweep for GB curlers
• Veteran Vonn completes training run despite torn ACL
• What is the future of the Winter Olympics?

See you tomorrow.

Image source, EPA

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Bruce Mouat

Bruce Mouat had to settle for Olympic curling silver in 2022. This month, in Italy, he will attempt to upgrade that in the mixed and men's events, with his Team Mouat rink strong favourites to triumph in the latter.

Life has not always been easy for the 31-year-old from Edinburgh, who came out as gay in 2013 after a life-changing conversation with a sports psychologist. He says telling his team-mates "was possibly the best thing I ever did for my career".

So, with the benefit of that experience both in life and in curling, what would Mouat tell his younger self if he had the chance?

Read Bruce Mouat's letter to his younger self by clicking here

That's the opening ceremony done and dusted, we now move on to tomorrow's action, where there are five medals up for grabs.

Here's the schedule for the medal events:

• Men's downhill - 10:30-12:50
• Women's cross country - skiathlon - 12:00-13:50
• Women's speed skating 3000m - 15:00-1650
• Women's ski jumping - normal hill - 17:45-20:00
• Men's snowboard big air - 18:30-20:05

As well as the medal events, there's no rest for Britain's Bruce Mouat and Jen Dodds, who were in action twice today and return for the third day running in the mixed curling.

We are back tomorrow with our live text coverage getting under way at 09:00 GMT.

Follow our daily guide here

The cauldrons are lit!

Twin flames at Arco della Pace in Milan and at Piazza Angelo Dibona in Cortina light cauldrons inspired by the work of Leonardo da Vinci.

The Olympic Games have formally begun!

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

We're outside the stadium now and the torch is steadily making its way towards its home for the next two weeks.

Emma Smith
BBC Sport at San Siro

Nearly there, folks.

A child has been introduced, and she's fascinated by some sort of astronomical device.

Frankly, much like late season Game of Thrones, this is too late to be introducing new characters.

We've enjoyed the solemn dignity of the Olympic oath.

A message of unity to spread to every corner of the globe.

And enough of that, because we're back to the dancing papier mache head men.

Image source, Getty Images

The athletes finishing parading an hour ago.

I bet you thought we were almost done then, didn't you?

The Olympic and Italian flags are being lofted in Milan and Cortina.

Not especially quickly.

Charlize Theron has performed a pledge for peace inspired by words from Nelson Mandela.

The Olympic flag is being walked into the stadium, carried by eight notable ambassadors, including the distance runner Eliud Kipchoge.

You're welcome, Daniel.

As Bocelli sings his final notes, the flame is handed over to make its way out of the stadium and head to the Olympic cauldron.

Ghali, a Milanese artist, is now performing Gianni Rodari's poem Memorandum in four different languages, accompanied by a mass of performers in translucent rain coats.

Emma Smith
BBC Sport at San Siro

Goosebumps.

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Speeches done, we've enjoyed video of the Olympic torch making its way to the San Siro.

And here, of course, is Andrea Bocelli to sing Nessun Dorma.

Soak it up.

Image source, Getty Images

International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry: "This is why we all love the Games. Because through you, we see the very best of ourselves.

"You remind us that we can be brave. That we can be kind. That we can get back up, no matter how hard we fall.

"The spirit of the Olympic Games is about so much more than sport. It is about us – and what makes us human.

"This is the magic of the Olympic Games: inspiring us all to be the best that we can be - together."

The group of flag bearers behind Kirsty Coventry are sporting quite the outfit.

Silver boots and trousers, white jacket with silver snowflake design, white hats.

A sort of wintery Praetorian guard.

Emma Smith
BBC Sport at San Siro

This is Kirsty Coventry's first Games since being elected IOC President last March.

As the first female IOC President, this will be the first time the Olympics is officially declared open by a woman.

Coventry's speech is continuing, here's some influencers taking on curling.

You know what they say, can you really influence if you can't do it on a cold rink in Glasgow?

They do say that, don't look it up.

More from Team GB's curling team as Kirsty Coventry gets through her speech.

Here's Jen Dodds on their medal prospects.

Time for International Olympic President Kirsty Coventry.

The former swimmer from Zimbabwe became the first female head of the organisation in March last year, winning an election that also featured Sebastian Coe amongst its candidates.

Image source, EPA