With fewer than 100 days remaining until the Opening Ceremony of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, anticipation is rising across Italy and the global winter sports community.

On February 6, 2026, the world’s best winter athletes will gather at San Siro Stadium in Milan for an event that marks the return of the Winter Olympics to Italy, twenty years after Torino 2006 and seventy years after Cortina d’Ampezzo hosted in 1956.

The 100-day milestone was celebrated this week at Milan’s Palazzo Lombardia, bringing together leaders and organizers, including Attilio Fontana, President of Regione Lombardia; Giovanni Malagò, President of Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026; Andrea Varnier, CEO of the Foundation; and Martina Riva, Milan’s Councilor for Sport.

“Today marks an important milestone in our journey towards the Games. With the unveiling of the podiums that will be hosted in our mountains, we are shining the spotlight on Valtellina and the Alpine heart of Lombardia,” said Fontana in a press release. “The Olympic Torch Relay through Lombardia is an invitation to the world to discover our landscapes, our hospitality, and our excellence.”

Podiums unveiled: design, inclusion, and sustainability

The event also revealed the official podiums for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Designed by Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026 in collaboration with Cavaletti + Pagliariccio Studio, the podiums showcase a modern, modular design crafted from wood and metal, combining contemporary aesthetics with Italian craftsmanship.

Fully accessible and adaptable to different disciplines, the podiums embody the Games’ principles of inclusion and sustainability.

After the Games, thanks to the “Campioni Ogni Giorno” (Champions Every Day) initiative by P&G, Esselunga, and Milano Cortina 2026, many podiums will be donated to amateur sports clubs across Italy that promote inclusive sporting activities.

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Torch relay and digital ambassadors

The Olympic flame will be lit in Olympia, Greece, on November 26, 2025, before beginning a 63-day journey across Italy, starting in Rome on December 6. A total of 10,001 torchbearers will carry the flame to the Opening Ceremony at San Siro.

Twelve new Digital Ambassadors were also announced, including popular creators and personalities such as “Gli Autogol”, Sofia Dalle Rive, Tommaso Cassissa, and even Chico the dog, the first four-legged ambassador in Olympic history. They will help share the flame’s journey, both online and offline, symbolically connecting communities throughout Italy.

A new Italian spirit

Milano-Cortina 2026 is more than a sporting event. The organizing committee’s work aims to leave a lasting social legacy, improving accessibility, promoting movement and gender equality, and encouraging inclusion across Italian society.

“The goal is clear: to ensure that the impact of Milano Cortina 2026 does not end in two months of competitions, but continues over time,” Malagò said. “This, for us, is the true meaning of the Games.”

Looking ahead: cross-country skiing and biathlon excitement

For cross-country skiing and biathlon fans, the spotlight will soon turn to Val di Fiemme, the host of the cross-country competitions, and Antholz, which will stage the biathlon events. These venues are set to welcome Olympic and World Champions as they prepare to chase Olympic glory.

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Program for cross-country skiing at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics
Program for biathlon at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics

Are you interested in training for long-distance, traditional cross-country skiing, and biathlon? Click HERE and read more about it.

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