The countdown to the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics has officially begun, with just 100 days remaining until the opening ceremony on 6 February. The Games will begin at Milan’s San Siro Stadium and close on 22 February at Verona’s ancient Arena.
Events will be shared across northern Italy. Milan will host ice sports, while alpine skiing takes place in Bormio and Cortina. Biathlon events will be held in Anterselva, with Nordic skiing and ski jumping in Val di Fiemme. Livigno, near the Swiss border, will welcome snowboarders and freestyle skiers.
Andrea Varnier, CEO of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Foundation, said preparations are progressing well despite typical logistical challenges. “Some projects will be completed close to the finish line, but we are respecting deadlines,” he said during an event in Milan organised by Il Giornale.
Most competitions will use existing facilities, limiting the environmental and financial footprint. Only two new venues are under construction: the bobsleigh run in Cortina and the Santa Giulia Arena in Milan, which will host ice hockey.
Italy aiming for 19 medals
At a press conference marking the 100-day milestone, Italian Olympic Committee President Luciano Buonfiglio set a target of at least 19 medals for Italy. He described the upcoming Games as “an honour for Italian sport” and confirmed that athletes will receive the same bonuses as at the Paris 2024 Olympics: €180,000 for gold, €90,000 for silver, and €60,000 for bronze. The government has pledged to make these prizes tax-free.
However, Italy’s preparations have been dampened by injuries to several top athletes. Alpine skier Marta Bassino is expected to miss the Games after fracturing her tibia, while two-time overall World Cup champion Federica Brignone is fighting to recover from a double leg fracture sustained in April.
