Winter Olympics preview: one week to go until Milano Cortina 2026

January 30, 2026

TL;DR

Milano Cortina Games will be co-hosted by two cities, stretching across northern Italy.
Sixteen sports and over 110 gold medals will be contested.
Notable athletes mentioned include Mikaela Shiffrin, Dave Ryding, Ilia Malinin, and Arianna Fontana.
Geopolitical tensions and security operations in Italy are a concern, with the Milan mayor calling a law enforcement agency a "militia that kills."
Russian and Belarusian athletes will compete as 'Individual Neutral Athletes' under strict IOC conditions.
Doping remains a concern for the IOC.
The Games are designed for the modern era with a focus on sustainability, using existing venues and reducing permanent construction.
The split-host model faces scrutiny regarding logistics for athletes, fans, and media.
Italy's cultural pull, including food, fashion, design, and landscape, is expected to be a significant aspect of the Games.
Some sporting events, including curling, ice hockey, and snowboarding, will begin before the opening ceremony on February 6th.
The opening ceremony will feature musical performances and two Olympic cauldrons in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo.

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