Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics Officially Underway After Dazzling Opening Ceremony
Published Date: 8th Feb, 2026
February 08, 2026
The Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games began in earnest Saturday following Friday night's spectacular opening ceremony at Milan's iconic San Siro Stadium. A record 2,952 athletes from 92 National Olympic Committees are now competing across 114 medal events over the next 17 days, delivering what IOC President Thomas Bach described as "a powerful celebration of sport, unity, and resilience in challenging times."
The ceremony blended Italy's rich artistic heritage with cutting-edge technology and a strong environmental message, featuring performers on a stage constructed from recycled materials and large-scale LED projections depicting melting glaciers transitioning into renewed alpine landscapes. Italian President Sergio Mattarella officially declared the Games open, while Italian figure skating icon Carolina Kostner ignited the cauldron in a dramatic aerial finale.
Record Participation and Historic Firsts
This edition marks several milestones:
- Largest-ever Winter Olympic athlete contingent (2,952)
- 92 participating National Olympic Committees, including first-time Winter appearances in alpine skiing or cross-country from Nigeria, Eritrea, and Saudi Arabia
- Third consecutive Winter Games for the Refugee Olympic Team
- Debut of women's ski jumping mixed team event and new big air disciplines in snowboarding
The United States leads with 223 athletes, followed by Canada (215), Germany (148), and host nation Italy (145). Norway arrives as the team to beat in nordic disciplines.
Day 1 Competition Highlights
Saturday's action kicked off across multiple venues:
- Biathlon: Norway's Johannes Thingnes Bø took gold in the men's 10km sprint, while Sweden's Elvira Öberg claimed the women's title.
- Ski Jumping: Japan's Ryoyu Kobayashi won the men's normal hill individual event.
- Speed Skating: Dutch skaters dominated early distances, with Kjeld Nuis securing gold in the men's 1,500m.
- Cross-Country: Sweden's Frida Karlsson won the women's skiathlon, while Norway's Simen Hegstad Krüger took the men's race.
Alpine skiing begins Sunday with the women's downhill, while figure skating team event competitions also start.
Venue Logistics and Climate Debate
Events are distributed across Milan (ice sports), Cortina d'Ampezzo and Bormio (alpine skiing and sliding), and Val di Fiemme (nordic skiing). Organizers relied heavily on artificial snow production and snow farming techniques due to warmer-than-average winter temperatures, drawing criticism from environmental organizations.
The IOC and Milan-Cortina 2026 organizing committee countered that 85 percent of venues run on 100 percent renewable energy and that legacy facilities from 1956 Cortina and 2006 Turin minimized new permanent construction. A small protest occurred outside San Siro during the ceremony, calling for the complete elimination of fossil fuel-related sponsorships.
Medal Contenders and Must-Watch Storylines
Key athletes to watch include:
- Mikaela Shiffrin (USA) – chasing history as the most decorated female alpine skier
- Johannes Høsflot Klæbo (NOR) – aiming to surpass Marit Bjørgen's all-time Winter medal tally
- Eileen Gu (CHN) – returning freestyle skiing star under intense media spotlight
- Multiple medal threats from Norway in biathlon and cross-country
- Italian hopes pinned on Sofia Goggia (alpine), Arianna Fontana (short track), and Dorothea Wierer (biathlon)
The Games' official motto "Together for a Shared Future" underscored themes of unity, sustainability, and inclusion throughout the opening ceremony. With competition now fully underway across Italy's alpine and metropolitan venues, the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics promise two and a half weeks of elite athletic achievement, cultural celebration, and global attention focused on both sporting excellence and pressing environmental realities.
Date: 8th Feb, 2026
