Featured Image: Credit: On Location.
With less than 365 days until the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, athletes will have their ambitions set on competing on the most prestigious stage in sport.
Milano Cortina 2026 promises exciting features, including new events, the most gender-balanced Olympic Winter Games in history, and multiple locations, to highlight just a few.
Recently, both men and women in alpine ski racing had their last opportunity to compete on their given tracks before the upcoming Olympic Winter Games. The women will race on Cortina d’Ampezzo, at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre, and the men’s races are set for Bormio, on the Stelvio Ski Centre hill.
The Alpine ski racing community, especially the athletes, have already been gleaming with excitement for the Milano Cortina 2026. Many have vocalized their excitement with hopes of competing and winning Olympic medals.
Official Hospitality Provider, On Location, will offer unmatched packages that will help visitors not only navigate these two races but also other remarkable events. They want to make spectating, accommodations, and perks as easy as possible for attendees.
Alpine Athletes Highlighting Milano Cortina 2026
Alpine ski racers have been vocal about their excitement for Milano Cortina 2026, sharing their goals, anticipations, and more.
The women have mostly expressed enthusiasm for Cortina, while the men have been more candid about their anxieties and the difficulties posed by the Stelvio track.
Lindsey Vonn of the Stifel US Ski Team returned to ski racing after being away from the sport for nearly 6 years. Although she has made it known that she did not return to the sport for the sole intention of competing in Milano Cortina 2026, the veteran is excited about the idea of doing so.
She has also explained that she envisions the Olympic Winter Games to be the actual end point of her career.
Vonn stated, “I definitely am thinking about it, and I hope that I can get there.” She explained that racing on one of her favorite courses for the Olympic Winter Games would be “a great way to end things—for once and for all.”
Mikaela Shiffrin, the top alpine ski racer in history, raved about how much she loves the Cortina venue and stated, “This is one place in the world I would say, whether it’s during the [Olympic Winter] Games or after, if you travel anywhere, you should travel to this region because it’s our favorite stop on the World Cup tour for most of the athletes, one of the favorites at least.”
Federica Brignone of Italy, a three-time Olympic medalist and 2020 Overall World Cup Champion, also highlighted the track. “It moves in sync with the mountain, so you don’t need to worry about the gates; it’s more about following the twisting path of the course.”
On the other hand, for the men, the Bormio track brings up more nerves than excitement for most.
Swiss three-time defending World Champion Marco Odermatt stated, “The Stelvio is like a constant fight for survival.” He continued, “The big problem: 80% of the course is completely icy; 20% consists of aggressive snow.
Athletes have consistently mentioned the insufficient lighting on the Stelvio track. However, with the Olympic Winter Games now scheduled for February instead of December, they are enthusiastic about this change making conditions more favorable.
Stifel US Ski Team athlete, Bryce Bennett, stated, “I am excited to ski this in the sun. It’s so dark. So having a little bit of light on the course, I think it will be fun to ski, and I’ve heard that from former athletes, like Bode and Daron. They’re like, ‘It’s easy in the sun!’ I don’t think it’s easy, but it’s easier than it is.”
Don’t miss the Alpine Ski Racing events happening from February 6th to 22nd, 2026. It will be the first time in 20 years that the Olympic Winter Games have returned to the Italian Alps.
Most Gender-Balanced Olympic Games in History
Milano Cortina 2026 will feature a greater number of women’s events, making it the most gender-balanced edition in the history of the Olympic Winter Games, with female participation reaching 47 percent.
This highlight will bring eight new events that have been added to the program with a strong focus on gender equality.
The eight new events added for women’s competitions include:
- Mixed Team Skeleton
- Women’s Doubles in Luge
- 3 different Women’s Ski Mountaineering events
- Women’s dual moguls in freestyle skiing
- Women’s large hill individual ski jumping
The IOC President, Thomas Bach, stated, “We have made significant progress to close the gender gap at the Olympic Winter Games.”
Official Hospitality Packages to Navigate with Ease
Official Hospitality is available in two types of packages for the Olympic Winter Games: the Ticket-Inclusive Overnight and Ticket-Inclusive Hospitality.
The Ticket-Inclusive Overnight Package Includes:
- Official Olympic Winter Games Ticket
- Hospitality Experience
- Guaranteed Accommodation
- Access to Transport Solutions Experts
- Staff Support Throughout Your Journey
The Ticket-Inclusive Hospitality Packages
- Official Olympic Winter Games Ticket
- Hospitality Experience
The Olympic Winter Games are unfolding across three regions and various cities in northern Italy, the Ticket-Inclusive Overnight Packages are crafted for your utmost convenience.
Enjoy a hassle-free hospitality experience while taking in all the exhilarating competitions at Milano Cortina 2026. Focus less on planning and more on making unforgettable memories.
About the Author: Ellie Hartman
