With 100 days remaining until the commencement of the Milan-Cortina Olympics, preparations are underway in northern Italy to host the most geographically dispersed Winter Games to date.
The Games will be centered around Milan, the bustling industrial hub of Italy’s north, and Cortina d’Ampezzo, an upscale winter resort nestled in the picturesque Dolomites mountain range. The two locations are over 400 kilometers apart, requiring visitors to plan for a full day of travel.
Apart from the main clusters in Milan and Cortina, athletes will also compete in three other mountain clusters, with the grand finale set to take place in Verona, the largest city in the northeastern Veneto region.
While the majority of the venues will utilize existing infrastructure, some facilities are undergoing renovations or are being constructed from the ground up. Here’s a detailed overview of the key venues:
**MILAN**
– **San Siro Stadium:** Milan’s iconic San Siro stadium, with an 80,000 seating capacity and home to AC Milan and Inter Milan, will host the opening ceremony. Post-Olympics, the historic venue is scheduled for demolition to make way for a new team-owned stadium.
– **Santagiulia Arena:** This 16,000-seat arena, designated as the primary hockey venue for the Games, faces tight construction timelines. Despite a delayed test event in December, organizers remain optimistic about its completion by year-end.
– **Ice Park:** The Fiera Milano exhibition venue will house ice hockey matches and speed skating events. Temporary structures will be erected within the complex, with the Ice Park spanning four pavilions.
– **Ice Skating Arena:** Short track and figure skating competitions will be held at the Forum di Milano, a versatile facility previously renovated in 2017.
**CORTINA**
– **Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre:** Cortina, renowned as the “queen of the Dolomites,” will feature the Olympia delle Tofane course for women’s alpine skiing.
– **Curling Olympic Stadium:** Curling matches will unfold at the Olympic Ice Stadium, a relic from the 1956 Games which also hosted the opening ceremony back then.
– **Cortina Sliding Centre:** The refurbished sliding center, a contentious project costing €118 million, has been revamped for the 2026 Games, receiving praise from the International Olympic Committee.
**BORMIO**
– **Stelvio Course:** Men’s alpine skiing and ski mountaineering events will be held at the Stelvio Ski Centre in Bormio, recognized for its challenging terrain.
**LIVIGNO**
– **Livigno Snow Park:** This town near Bormio will host snowboarding and freestyle skiing competitions, boasting the first completed Olympic venue.
**PREDAZZO**
– **Ski Jumping Facility:** Predazzo will provide a picturesque backdrop for ski jumping events, with a well-equipped facility for international competitions.
**TESERO**
– **Cross-Country Skiing Stadium:** Located near Predazzo, Tesero will be the venue for cross-country skiing events, featuring a stadium inaugurated in 1990.
**ANTERSELVA**
– **Biathlon Arena:** Anterselva, nestled in the South Tyrol mountains, will host biathlon competitions, with a rich history of world championships and World Cup races.
**VERONA**
– The historic Verona Arena, an ancient Roman amphitheater in the heart of Verona, will stage the closing ceremony, accommodating around 15,000 spectators.
As the countdown to the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics continues, excitement builds for the diverse range of competitions set to unfold across these stunning Italian venues.
