ROME, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- The organizing committee of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games held the first and only World Press Briefing of this Olympic cycle in Milan from November 20 to 22 with over 200 representatives from media organizations, National Olympic Committees (NOCs), and international winter sports federations (IFs) attended the event in person.
During the briefing, the Milan-Cortina 2026 Organizing Committee provided updates on key areas of preparation, including accreditation, transportation, accommodation, and venue operations. Attendees also visited the competition venues in Bormio, which will host alpine skiing and ski mountaineering events and Livigno, which will stage freestyle skiing and snowboard competitions.
"The snow sports competition areas are small Italian mountain villages with a long history that must be preserved. The organizing committee aims to ensure the delivery of core services while fully considering economic and environmental sustainability in the preparation process," said Andrea Varnier, CEO of Fondazione Milano Cortina.
According to the organizing committee, one distinctive feature of the 2026 Winter Olympics is its wide geographical spread. The venues span across urban and mountain settings, forming four major competition clusters, with Verona added as the location for the closing ceremony. While this innovative approach highlights the diversity of the host regions, it also presents logistical challenges for the organizers.
The Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics will also make history by achieving a record-high female athlete participation rate of 47%. This milestone reflects the International Olympic Committee's ongoing efforts to promote gender equality in winter sports.
The Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics will run from February 6 to 22, with the opening ceremony set to take place at Milan's iconic San Siro Stadium and the closing ceremony scheduled at the Verona Olympic Arena. The Winter Paralympics will follow from March 6 to 15. ■
