As the weather gradually gets colder and snow begins to fall, the winter Olympics are rapidly approaching. The winter Olympics, held every four years, celebrate the winter sport achievements of participating nations in a frozen festival of competition. This year’s games will be held in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, with the games taking place from February 6th to February 22nd. This year’s competition is set in a bi-city format, taking place in multiple locations rather than one, creating a unique atmosphere for this winter’s festivities. The 2026 Winter Olympics mark Italy’s third year hosting the Winter Olympics, making it the second country to host the games three times.
By the numbers, Italy is hosting around 2,900 athletes, from 90 countries, competing in 16 sports with 116 events set to take place. Of these 16 events showcased in this winter’s Olympic Games, there is one new addition to the list this year, ski mountaineering. Ski Mountaineering, or skimo for short, is an athletic venture where competitors climb a mountain on skis while using special tools to bind themselves to the mountain. Once they reach the top of the mountain, they use the skis that they have been wearing to race down the mountain. Skimo has many roots in the northern region of Italy, where the games will be taking place, making the 2026 games the perfect year to officially introduce the new sport. The introduction of this new event combines cultural practices of the Alps region with the traditions of Olympic sporting events.
To get the full skimo experience and understand the sport as a whole, make sure to watch for American Skimo Olympian Anna Gibson. Even before the skimo has made its Olympic debut, Gibson has acquired an impressive resume and a number of awards in the world of skimo. Other important names to look out for this year include Lindsey Vonn, Mikaela Shiffrin, and Federica Brignone. All three of these high-intensity competitors have put up incredible performances in past Olympics in their respective events, and are expected to do the same this year. “I really enjoy watching the Olympics because it introduces me to sports I wouldn’t typically watch,” said junior Caitlin Persily. With the combination of the Winter Olympics classic events and competitors, along with this year’s new additions, the games are set to showcase a wide skill set and a variety of entertainment. One major event of any Olympic Games, aside from the thrilling sports, is the timeless opening ceremony and torch ceremony. For this year’s torch relay, the torch will begin in Olympia, Greece, and travel across Italy, ending in San Siro Stadium in Milan for the opening ceremony. Many famous names often appear as part of the torchbearing ceremony, and this year is no exception. The rising stars from the HBO Max hit, Heated Rivalry, Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, will be two of the torchbearers for this year’s opening ceremony. The addition of these two new celebrities bridges an important connection between the gripping athletic ventures of the games and ongoing pop culture. The culmination of talented athletes, a scenic host country, and enticing opening ceremonies sets up the 2026 Winter Olympics for much success and entertainment.
