The Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics begin today in the urban area of Italian Milan and mountainous Cortina d’Ampezzo. The competitions will last until February 22, at more than ten arenas in three regions of northern Italy.
Alpine skiers Elvedina Muzaferija, Esma Alić and Marko Šljivić, and Nordic skiers Strahinja Erić and Teodora Delipara will defend the colors of Bosnia and Herzegovina at the world’s largest sports event.
The BiH Olympic team was presented in January by the head of the mission, Said Fazlagić, who stated that the athletes will be accompanied in Italy by six coaches – Mladen Plakalović, Dragan Jeftović, Nicola Quaquarelli, Edhem Bajrić, Faris Zuhrić and Željko Šljivić, as well as physiotherapist Petra Baumkircher.
Elvedina Muzaferija will carry the flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina at the opening of the Olympic Games at the San Siro stadium.
This will be the fourth Olympic Games held in Italy, but also the territorially widest Winter Games so far. More than 3,000 athletes from more than 90 countries are expected to participate.
The 2026 Winter Olympics will be the first in history with two host cities – Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, which already hosted the Games in 1956. Competitions in women’s alpine skiing, curling, bobsleigh, skeleton and luge will be held in Cortina, while other sports will take place in other winter centers around Italy. The Nordic combination will be on the program for the last time, as it will not be at the ZOI 2030.
More than 100 medals in 16 sports will be awarded at the Games, and ski mountaineering will make its Olympic debut. The organizing committee announced that it has technical capacities for snow production and backup plans in case of adverse weather conditions, with the message that in the future more attention will be paid to the altitude of the arena.
The Olympic flame was lit on November 26 last year in Olympia, Greece, while the relay officially started on December 6 from Rome. During 63 days, the flame traveled through the hands of 10,001 bearers throughout Italy, including cities such as Siena, Pompeii and Lake Como. He arrived in Cortina d’Ampezzo on January 26, and his final destination is Milan, where the official opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games will be held, Fena news agency writes.
