Then begins the race for most medals at the world event in Italy. While the United States has the most medals in the Summer Olympics, the same can't be said for the Winter Olympics. The Americans have had their fair share of success but have the second-most medals all-time since the inaugural Winter Olympics in 1924.

Featuring tributes to da Vinci and Dante, Puccini and Pausini, Armani and Fellini, pasta and vino, and other iconic tastes of Italian culture — plus Mariah Carey hitting all the high notes in “Nel Blu...

Instead of the usual one cauldron that is lit and burns throughout the Olympics, there will be two, both intended as an homage to Leonardo da Vinci’s geometric studies.