With less than three weeks until the opening ceremony on February 6th,organizers are in the final stages of preparation for the 2026 Winter Olympics in milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo,Italy [[2]]. Despite the logistical challenges presented by utilizing eight venues across four clusters – a first for a Winter Games [[1]] – International Olympic Committee officials express confidence in a successful event. The Games are slated to feature 116 medal events [[1]],and this report details the latest assessments on venue readiness and operational planning.
With just 16 days remaining until the opening ceremony, International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry expressed confidence on Wednesday that the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympic Winter Games will be a success, despite the logistical hurdles presented by the geographically spread-out venues.
“We’re 16 days countdown, so we’re all very excited. A lot of the IOC team are already in Milan, Cortina, myself, and the team will be arriving on Monday,” Coventry said during an online press conference. The upcoming Winter Games promise a blend of Italian tradition and cutting-edge innovation, and are highly anticipated by athletes and fans worldwide.
“I’m getting really excited about being able to get there and see the blend of tradition and innovation, the beautiful venues,” she added.
Preparations are progressing well, with positive results from recent test events. “We’ve seen really good test events. The organizing committee are working very closely with all of the IOC departments on the last few areas that they need to focus on,” Coventry stated.
Coventry also shared her enthusiasm for the opening ceremony, predicting a showcase of Italian creativity. “I think it is going to be incredible and the Italian creativity is going to be fully shown. So make sure you’re all a part of it.”
The Milan-Cortina 2026 Games are shaping up to be one of the most geographically dispersed Winter Olympics in history, utilizing venues across four clusters and eight locations throughout Italy. This ambitious model aims to enhance sustainability, but also introduces significant operational challenges.
“If we look at how the model is set up today, I do believe that we took the right decision in having a more dispersed games, but I think we can all say very openly and honestly, it has added additional complexities for media, transport, the IOC and the OBS,” Coventry acknowledged.
A comprehensive post-Games evaluation will be conducted to assess the balance between sustainability benefits and the increased costs and logistical complexities.
IOC Olympic Games Executive Director Christophe Dubi confirmed that while some venues still require finishing touches, the remaining work is manageable. “Yes a lot. But it’s not complex work, so anything that has to do with any of the systems, especially for the track refrigeration, electricity, timing, scoring, all this is in place,” he said, specifically referencing the Cortina sliding center.
Dubi noted that the Cortina venue is primarily focused on final details. “Now what I saw while walking is still a lot of finishing touches. Some concrete pavements, for additional tents, for hospitality, some groundwork to get the venue ready for spectators where currently it’s a bit patchy when you walk. But it’s not complex. And they have a lot of people working.”
The Milan Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, which hosted a test event from January 9 to 11, is also nearing completion. “It started late. The great objectives of having the best conditions for the Games for the athletes. It means all hands on deck, 1,600 workers a day in the venue to get it ready,” Dubi explained.
Coventry also addressed the IOC’s ongoing commitment to protecting women’s sports, stating that a dedicated working group is actively exploring ways to further promote and safeguard women’s participation. She clarified that the 145th IOC Session, scheduled to take place during the Games, will not be making any decisions on this issue. ■
