Turin will open the Winter Olympics next month in a whirl of fashion and technology, and close the Games with a nostalgic carnival of harlequins.

"The opening ceremony is all about passion, energy, the Italy of the future. It will be a bit aggressive," Marco Balich of Filmmaster Group, executive producer of the ceremonies, said.

Olympic hosts usually try to keep details of the ceremonies under wraps. But Turin has already leaked several elements of the opening ceremony on February 10.

Giorgio Armani is preparing the entrance of the flag into the stadium while fashion house Moschino will style the athletes' parade. Speed skaters with flame-shooting helmets will whizz around.

The closing ceremony on February 26 will look back at Italy's cultural past with a nostalgic feel.

While Turin's budget of 28 million euros for both ceremonies is a fraction of what Athens spent on its extravaganza, the shows will have their share of headline-grabbers.

Pop and opera singer Andrea Boccelli and Canadian Avril Lavigne will entertain the Turin crowds.

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