OLYMPIC BOSSES have refused to confirm if Mariah Carey lip-synced during her Box Office performance at the Opening Ceremony of the Milan-Cortina Games.
On a no-fee basis, the American singer, 56, sang two songs at the San Siro on Friday night, the first tune being in Italian and the second was her hit ‘Nothing Is Impossible’.
The organisers had made a big thing about the Grammy award-winning diva’s appearance early on in the three-and-a-half-hour ceremony.
Yet her delivery has divided opinion online with some claiming that the track played to a global audience of billions had been pre-recorded and she was in fact mining in her silvery dress.
The question was put directly towards the International Olympic Committee and Organising Committee on Saturday morning.
And top official Maria Laura Lascone replied: “During all the Ceremony, we always record.
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“But this is something that is used internationally.
“Yesterday’s performance was really extraordinary and the images can prove it to you all, because there was magic.”
Lascone added: “Mariah Carey was exceptional, she was not paid for the Opening Ceremony.
“We are very honoured…we were extremely satisfied with her performance.
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“Yes, we had a teleprompter, especially for those artists who sang in a different language as they needed some support.
“It is a way to support the talents on the stage.”
IOC’s communications director Mark Adams added: “I have to take my hat off to anyone who sings in a language that isn’t their native language.”
Italian tenor singer Andrea Bocelli was the star of the show and his performance of operatic classic Nessun Dorma – a song that was made famous during the Italia ‘90 World Cup finals – will go down in history.
There will also be a special tribute to legendary fashion designer Giorgio Armani, who died last September aged 91.
Before he passed away, Armani helped to design the kit for the flagbearers, who will enter the arena with the flags for all competing nations.
The Olympics will take place over 16 days on ice, snow and slopes.
The weave of the cauldron will pay homage to Leonardo da Vinci, the Italian genius, who is deeply linked with the history of Milan.