— Published February 8, 2026

After a "gloomy" edition in 2022, the festive and popular Winter Games are back.

Milan-Cortina 2026 Focus

The Covid-19 pandemic disrupted the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. The organizing committee did not sell tickets due to the health situation. Only 97.000 spectators attended the events, thanks to invitations. Images of the half-empty opening ceremony at the Bird's Nest stadium set the tone. That chapter was definitively closed on Friday with the opening of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Games, celebrated with fervor at the San Siro stadium, as well as in Predazzo, Livigno, and Cortina.

"Slightly lighter" Games

The memories of Beijing 2022 are still fresh in the minds of many athletes. Despite twelve negative Covid tests before boarding her flight, Belgian Kim Meylemans (skeleton) had to spend several days in isolation once she arrived in China. Thousands of athletes, coaches, officials and media representatives […] are greeted at the airport by an army of agents dressed head to toe in protective gear, resembling the stormtroopers from Star Wars ", then described LA TimesDue to the health bubble, the athletes had to compete in front of empty stands. They also had to forgo the experience of the Olympic Village, where athletes who are not used to being around each other can share unique moments.

« 2022 was really gloomy. It wasn't a Nordic country at all; you didn't feel that enthusiasm at all. “,” confirms biathlete Julia Simon. An anxiety-inducing context "for Perrine Laffont who aspires to slightly lighter games "In Italy." We'll have the family with us, that'll be good for the mind. " confided the 2018 Olympic moguls skiing champion. Beijing was strange, really dull., adds Max Cobb, Secretary General of the IBU, to Francs Jeux. We are really going to enjoy these Olympic Games with a packed stadium and fans along the course to honor the athletes and cheer them on in this fantastic spirit of winter sports. "The IBU expects 200.000 spectators across all of its races."

The clouds of the pandemic have cleared, and Italy has the advantage of being a historic winter sports nation, hosting World Cup stages or World Championships every winter, thus guaranteeing the passion and enthusiasm that will accompany the event. China doesn't have the strongest winter sports culture; it's in Europe, and even in the United States and Canada., lamented skier Clément Noël on RMC. The most important thing is not to travel. It's to experience something exceptional with exceptional passion. "And all the conditions seem to be in place in Italy."

"The magic of the Olympic Games remains undiminished."

The Olympic torch relay has set the tone over the past two months. I was at the start of the relay in Rome in early December; there was a great atmosphere. Lots of people lined the roads. " says Jean-Loup Chappelet, a specialist in the Olympic Movement.

This enthusiasm was shared by David Donnelly, co-founder of the RnK agency (SSM group), who helped organize the relay. The conditions were different compared to Paris 2024: it gets dark early, it's cold, but that's when you realize the power of this Olympic flame. It works every time, even far from the host regions. The power of this flame is impressive. People take to the streets to see it, the celebration sites are packed. It's a unique feeling, one that everyone talks about. The torchbearers are often overcome with emotion when they carry it. The Olympic magic is still going strong. »

The opening ceremony, which drew over 60.000 spectators to Milan, and the first competitions confirmed this trend. It was great, there was a good atmosphere. Honestly, we had a blast. “,” ski jumper Joséphine Pagnier remarked after the ceremony. More than 1,2 million tickets were sold.