With just months to go until the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, the IOC Coordination Commission’s final on-site visit confirmed that preparations have entered a decisive delivery phase. The Organising Committee is now fully in “delivery mode”, tackling operational challenges with renewed energy and teamwork. IOC President Kirsty Coventry praised the progress during a venue tour, describing the Olympic Village as “so stunning it makes me want to become a winter athlete!”
The visit also highlighted the Games’ innovative delivery model, designed to engage multiple regions across Italy and leave a lasting legacy. With over 800,000 tickets already sold and the Olympic Torch Relay set to unite 20 regions and 110 provinces, excitement is truly ramping up across the country.
Executive Board Statement: Sport Must Unite the World
During its meeting in Milan, the IOC Executive Board (EB) reaffirmed that “sport must unite the world in peaceful competition.” In a world shaken by conflict and division, the IOC EB stands firm in its belief that sport must remain a beacon of hope – a force that brings the whole world together in peaceful competition. This is at the very heart of the Olympic Movement and derives from the Fundamental Principles of Olympism.
The IOC deeply believes that differences between nations must be resolved through dialogue, not violence, and is concerned by the disruption of competitions, restrictions on athletes, and boycotts due to political tensions, all of which deprive athletes of their right to compete peacefully. The IOC called on all stakeholders to respect the Olympic Charter and the unifying power of sport. The IOC EB also decided to set up a Working Group on the Protection of the Fundamental Principles of Olympism, ensuring that the IOC, the Olympic Games, and sport remain politically neutral and can uphold their mission to unite the world in peaceful competition.
