Greece, as always, will be the first country introduced in the Parade of Nations for the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.

Here's what to know about the Parade of Nations in the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony and how the country order is determined.

From the Games’ Greek origins to their first foray into Asia, the Olympics are known for bringing nations from all around the world together to celebrate the very best in athletics.

The Olympic rings symbolize four things: The shape of the rings symbolizes the universality of the Olympic Movement. The rings are interlocked to represent the unity and meeting of athletes from around the world. In Olympic parlance, the five inhabited continents are Africa, the Americas (North and South America combined), Asia, Europe and Oceania.

Nothing compares to the Olympics when it comes to promoting the best in sports competition and peaceful international relations. The Winter Olympics kicked off this week in the mountains of northern Italy.