by InTrieste
With one year to go until the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, Italy celebrated the official countdown last Thursday, signaling its readiness to host the world’s top athletes.
“Italy is ready to write the next chapter of its great Olympic history,” International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said at a ceremony in Milan’s Teatro Piccolo. He invited athletes from around the world to return to Italy for what he promised would be “an unforgettable blend of sport and Italian flair.”
The 25th Winter Olympics, set to take place from February 6 to 22, 2026, will be co-hosted by Milan and the Alpine town of Cortina d’Ampezzo. Events will include skiing, snowboarding, ice hockey, and figure skating, with the Paralympics following from March 6 to 15.
A key focus remains the much-debated sliding center in Cortina d’Ampezzo, intended to host bobsleigh, skeleton, and luge. Despite concerns over construction delays, officials insisted it will be completed on time, with the first ice expected in March. As a contingency, Lake Placid in the United States has been identified as an alternative venue.
Milan Mayor Beppe Sala, citing the city’s successful experience with Expo 2015, emphasized the Games’ broader significance beyond sports, highlighting sustainability and lifestyle. Cortina Mayor Gianluca Lorenzi acknowledged the challenges of recent years but expressed confidence that the final stretch of preparations would showcase “the most beautiful Olympics ever.”
Milan-Cortina 2026 will mark the third time Italy has hosted the Winter Olympics, following Cortina d’Ampezzo in 1956 and Turin in 2006.
