Milan-Cortina 2026: On Track for a Youthful, Gender-Balanced Winter Olympics

Ticketing: A Positive Start

As we step into June 2025, the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics is off to a commendable start in ticketing. Andrea Varnier, CEO of the Organising Committee, confirmed that almost half of the 1.5 million tickets have been sold. This promising figure is further boosted by the enthusiasm of younger generations, with over 30% of buyers being below 34 years of age. Refreshingly, the gender split is almost equal, with 54% of tickets purchased by men and 46% by women.

Readiness and Venues: Punctuality and Innovation

The Olympic Village in Milan is nearing completion, scheduled for handover by the end of July. Meanwhile, the temporary village in Cortina already boasts 80% of its residential units installed. Notably, the Cortina Sliding Centre passed its pre-homologation in March, with 60 athletes from 12 nations testing across bobsleigh, skeleton, and luge disciplines. The final homologation is slated for October.

Another feather in the cap is the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, on course for the December test event, aligning perfectly with the scheduled timeline.

Innovating for the Future

The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics is poised to be the most gender-balanced in history, fostering a spirit of innovation, community, and a new Italian spirit driven by youthful energy and engagement.

” Milano Cortina 2026 is set to be the most gender-balanced Olympic Winter Games in history, showcasing innovation, community and a new Italian spirit shaped by the energy and engagement of the younger generations.”

Did you know?

• Milan-Cortina 2026 will utilize five existing venues and build two new ones.
• The Games aim to reduce carbon emissions by using renewable energy sources and promoting public transportation.

Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting journey towards the 2026 Winter Olympics!