VERONA, Italy — A city forever associated with Romeo and Juliet, Verona will host the final act of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics on Sunday inside the ancient Roman Arena, where some 1,500 athletes will celebrate their feats against a backdrop of Italian music and dance.
Volunteers stand close to the Arena ahead of the closing ceremony at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Verona, Italy, Feb. 17.
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Dressmaker Luciana Donadio works in a dressing room outside the Arena ahead of the closing ceremony at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Verona, Italy, Feb. 17.
Creative Director Alfredo Accatino speaks during an interview with The Associated Press outside the Arena ahead of the closing ceremony at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Verona, Italy, Feb. 17.
A view of the Arena ahead of the closing ceremony at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Verona, Italy, Feb. 17.
AP photographers use robotic and remote cameras for striking Olympic photos
Italy's goalkeeper Damian Clara fails to make a save during a preliminary round game of men's ice hockey between Finland and Italy at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Sarah Warren of the United States takes the start of the speed skating women's 500m at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Team Netherlands leads the men's 5000m relay short track speed skating followed by South Korea, Japan and Belgium at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Xandra Velzeboer of the Netherlands celebrates the gold after the women's 1,000 meters short track speed skating at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Ellie Kam and Danny O'Shea of the United States compete during the pairs figure skating long program at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
United States' Luc Violette and Aidan Oldenburg sweep ahead of a stone during a men's curling round robin match against China at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
United States's Casey Dawson, right, Emery Lehman, center, and Ethan Cepuran compete during the speed skating men's team pursuit final at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Italy's Amos Mosaner delivers a stone against the United States during a curling mixed doubles round robin session at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Italy's goalkeeper Gabriella Durante fails to save the puck as Japan's Akane Shiga scores her side's second goal during a preliminary round match of women's ice hockey between Japan and Italy at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Kazakhstan's Elizaveta Golubeva warms up before the women's speedskating 1,000-meters final at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Switzerland's Alina Muller scores her side's opening goal during a preliminary round match of women's ice hockey between Finland and Switzerland at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic, Pool)
Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron of France compete during the ice dancing free skate in figure skating at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan reacts as he competes during the men's free skate program in figure skating at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Italy players before during a preliminary round match of women's ice hockey between Italy and France at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Ilia Malinin of the United States competes during the figure skating men's team event at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Kaori Sakamoto of Japan competes during the figure skating women's team event at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
