The countdown has begun! Italy celebratedD-365 to the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympic GamesThursday. The IOC President, Thomas Bach, first inaugurated the Omega clock counting down the time until the start of the Games, installed next to the famous Duomo in Milan. He then led a ceremony at the Strehler Theater, where he officially presented their invitation to six national Olympic committees (Greece, China, France, United States, Australia, Italy). « Italy is ready to write the new chapter of its great Olympic history, did he declare. Milan, Cortina and all our Italian friends are ready to welcome the best winter sports athletes on the planet with open arms, with a sense of hospitality and a love of sport which Italy is accustomed to."
In the previous days, the IOC President was able to meet Pope Francis, the President of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) and Milan-Cortina 2026, Giovanni Malagò, the President of the country Sergio Mattarella, several ministers as well as Prime Minister Georgia Meloni, to discuss the challenges of these Winter Games. "Millions of people have already been caught up in the ever-growing excitement, he greets. Programs such as Italia dei Giochi, Gen26 and the Cultural Olympiad spread the Olympic values, encourage active lifestyles and combine sport and culture, throughout Italy. The torch relay will pass through all the provinces of the country. The volunteer programme has attracted nearly four times more applications than vacancies, which is a testament to the immense enthusiasm generated by these Winter Olympic Games. All these initiatives, as well as many others, perfectly demonstrate that Milan-Cortina 2026 legacy takes shape long before the lighting of the Olympic flame."
