Who are Tara Lipinski, Johnny Weir and Terry Gannon, ice stars who are hosting Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics 2026 closing ceremony

The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina will officially end on Sunday, February 22. NBC Sports has confirmed that Terry Gannon, Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir will guide viewers through the Closing Ceremony. The event begins at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time. A recap show titled “Best of Milan Cortina” will air at 5 p.m., and a primetime replay is scheduled for 9 p.m. The ceremony will celebrate athletes, medal moments and Italian culture as the Games come to a conclusion.

The ceremony will take place inside the historic Verona Olympic Arena in Italy. The venue dates back to ancient Roman times and was originally built around 30 AD. Organizers promise a mix of music, art and sport to mark the end of the Winter Games. The program will include the Parade of Athletes and the traditional Olympic flag handover to the 2030 Winter Olympics hosts in the French Alps.

Familiar Olympic voices return for the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics 2026 closing ceremony

Terry Gannon is one of NBC’s most experienced Olympic broadcasters. Milan-Cortina is his eighth Olympic assignment and his fourth straight Winter Games covering figure skating. He has hosted the last four Olympic Closing Ceremonies and, for the first time, also handled an Opening Ceremony this year. During the Games, he worked as the play-by-play commentator alongside Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir.

Lipinski and Weir are well-known figure skating analysts. Lipinski made history by winning Olympic gold at the 1998 Nagano Games at age 15. She later retired from amateur skating the same year. Weir competed at the 2006 and 2010 Winter Olympics and became a three-time U.S. national champion before retiring from competition in 2013. Both now focus on broadcasting and technical analysis.

Throughout the 2026 Games, the pair explained routines, scoring and skills to viewers. They also attracted attention for their creative outfits and playful social media posts. During the Exhibition Gala, they celebrated American skater Alysa Liu’s gold medal with a light-hearted champagne celebration. Their matching outfits and humorous videos became popular online.

The ceremony will also highlight athletes. U.S. hockey star Hilary Knight and figure skater Evan Bates will carry the American flag. Musical performances are planned from Italian singer Achille Lauro and DJ Gabry Ponte, and actress Benedetta Porcaroli will appear. After the Olympics end, attention will quickly shift to the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, which begin from March 6.





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