Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics: Inside the Olympic Village Taking Shape in the Italian Alps
With the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics just days away, the heartbeat of the Games is taking shape high in the Italian Alps. At the Olympic Village in Cortina d’Ampezzo, anticipation is building as athletes from across the world arrive ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics, ready to live and compete in one of winter sport’s most iconic destinations.
Set against the dramatic backdrop of the Dolomites, the Cortina Olympic and Paralympic Village is currently home to nearly 1,400 athletes, coaches and team officials. The temporary settlement comprises 377 trailers, each equipped with essential comforts and built to meet strict accessibility standards, including wheelchair-friendly units for Paralympic athletes competing at the Milano Cortina Games.
Despite initial concerns about living in temporary housing, athletes are embracing the experience. Australian skeleton athlete Nick Timmings praised the warmth and functionality of the accommodations, noting that fears about heating and plumbing have given way to comfort and convenience.
More than a place to sleep, the Cortina village is a vibrant community hub. Athletes mingle at the outdoor coffee stand, trade national pins and proudly display team flags and mascots such as the red moose outside Team Canada’s lodgings bringing colour and personality to the snowy campsite.
The communal dining hall buzzes with chatter over Italian favourites like lasagna and cannoli, and the village also offers fitness facilities, massage rooms, lounges and even a prayer space. Swedish curling coach Alison Kreviazuk highlighted the desserts as a particular highlight, while athletes from nations including Canada, the U.S., Romania and Latvia share stories and forge friendships in the lounge areas.
“It’s just such a fun environment to be here,” said an American curler, emphasising how the shared spaces and Alpine setting make every day feel like part of the Olympic dream.
Cortina d’Ampezzo, long synonymous with winter sports and Olympic heritage, is set to host several key events at the 2026 Winter Olympics, including curling, women’s Alpine skiing, bobsleigh, luge and skeleton. Serving as a co-host city, Cortina rekindles its rich Olympic legacy dating back to the 1956 Winter Olympics, blending history with the excitement of a modern global sporting spectacle.
Though designed as a temporary installation, the Olympic Village has cultivated a strong sense of belonging and purpose. Athletes are not only preparing for competition; they are sharing meals, conversations and moments that define the Olympic experience, all beneath the Italian winter sky.
With the opening ceremony scheduled for February 6, 2026, life inside the Cortina Olympic Village offers a compelling preview of the drama and emotion to come - shaping both competitive anticipation and global camaraderie at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics
Set against the dramatic backdrop of the Dolomites, the Cortina Olympic and Paralympic Village is currently home to nearly 1,400 athletes, coaches and team officials. The temporary settlement comprises 377 trailers, each equipped with essential comforts and built to meet strict accessibility standards, including wheelchair-friendly units for Paralympic athletes competing at the Milano Cortina Games.
Despite initial concerns about living in temporary housing, athletes are embracing the experience. Australian skeleton athlete Nick Timmings praised the warmth and functionality of the accommodations, noting that fears about heating and plumbing have given way to comfort and convenience.
More than a place to sleep, the Cortina village is a vibrant community hub. Athletes mingle at the outdoor coffee stand, trade national pins and proudly display team flags and mascots such as the red moose outside Team Canada’s lodgings bringing colour and personality to the snowy campsite.
The communal dining hall buzzes with chatter over Italian favourites like lasagna and cannoli, and the village also offers fitness facilities, massage rooms, lounges and even a prayer space. Swedish curling coach Alison Kreviazuk highlighted the desserts as a particular highlight, while athletes from nations including Canada, the U.S., Romania and Latvia share stories and forge friendships in the lounge areas.
“It’s just such a fun environment to be here,” said an American curler, emphasising how the shared spaces and Alpine setting make every day feel like part of the Olympic dream.
Cortina d’Ampezzo, long synonymous with winter sports and Olympic heritage, is set to host several key events at the 2026 Winter Olympics, including curling, women’s Alpine skiing, bobsleigh, luge and skeleton. Serving as a co-host city, Cortina rekindles its rich Olympic legacy dating back to the 1956 Winter Olympics, blending history with the excitement of a modern global sporting spectacle.
Though designed as a temporary installation, the Olympic Village has cultivated a strong sense of belonging and purpose. Athletes are not only preparing for competition; they are sharing meals, conversations and moments that define the Olympic experience, all beneath the Italian winter sky.
With the opening ceremony scheduled for February 6, 2026, life inside the Cortina Olympic Village offers a compelling preview of the drama and emotion to come - shaping both competitive anticipation and global camaraderie at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics
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