With less than five months to go until the Olympic Winter Games begin, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has confirmed that preparations for Milano Cortina 2026 have now entered the decisive delivery phase.
The IOC Coordination Commission made its final visit to Italy before the Games, which will open on 6 February 2026. The Commission reviewed progress on venues, Olympic Villages, and operational readiness, noting that over 85% of competition venues are already existing – a key feature of the IOC’s new sustainable Games model.
IOC President Kirsty Coventry joined the final session of the meetings, underlining the importance of unity and innovation in shaping the upcoming edition: “We all agreed in the Olympic Movement that we needed to try to be more sustainable, to reach out to regions. This is the first time we’re going to see this. So let’s make it not just incredible Games for Milan and Cortina, but for all of Italy, and for the Olympic Movement. In today’s world, where everything is so divided, we really need to come together and show the world just how powerful we are.”
From the Milano Cortina 2026 side, Organising Committee President Giovanni Malagò said: “This session of the Coordination Commission has been a moment of constructive dialogue and great value. It marked the last opportunity to meet in person before a series of remote meetings that will accompany us in the coming months, making our working group even more aware of the challenges that lie ahead. We have taken important steps forward, but we are fully aware that the road to Milano Cortina 2026 is still long and demanding. The coming weeks will be decisive, and will require clarity, determination and team spirit to effectively address the operational and strategic challenges that lie ahead. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Chair of the Commission, Kristin Kloster, and the Executive Director of the Olympic Games, Christophe Dubi, for their unwavering passion and dedication to the Milano Cortina 2026 project. Their contribution, along with that of the entire International Olympic Committee, has been essential in consolidating the vision and ambition that guide us. I would also like to sincerely thank all our stakeholders: local authorities, public and private partners, territories, federations, volunteers and all the organisations that are contributing with competence and generosity to the realisation of a memorable and sustainable edition of the Games. Their trust is our strength. Finally, the presence of President Kirsty Coventry added further value to these days of work, bringing renewed energy and momentum to all of us.”
Excitement is building across the host country: nearly 800,000 tickets have already been sold, the official Games-time website has gone live, and the Olympic Torch Relay is set to unite 20 regions on a 12,000 km journey featuring more than 10,000 torchbearers.
The Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games will run from 6 to 22 February, followed by the Paralympic Winter Games from 6 to 15 March.
© Photo: IOC