Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games Kick Off Feb 6; India Sends Arif Khan, Stanzin Lundup
Italy co-hosts 2026 Winter Olympics from Feb 6; 3000+ athletes in 116 events, India features two skiers.
The 25th edition of the Winter Olympic Games will begin on February 6, marking the start of Milano Cortina 2026, co-hosted by Italy’s Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo. This is the first time the Winter Olympics are being jointly hosted by two cities and the fourth occasion Italy has staged the Games, following Cortina 1956, Rome 1960 and Turin 2006. The event will run for 19 days and conclude on February 24.
More than 3,000 athletes from over 90 countries will compete across 116 medal events spanning 16 disciplines. The sports on the program include alpine skiing, biathlon, bobsleigh, cross-country skiing, curling, figure skating, freestyle skiing, ice hockey, luge, Nordic combined, short track speed skating, skeleton, ski jumping, ski mountaineering, snowboarding, and speed skating.
The Opening Ceremony will be held at Milan’s iconic San Siro Stadium, home to football giants AC Milan and Inter Milan, with around 60,000 spectators expected in attendance. Ahead of the Games, Pope Leo has appealed to world leaders to use the Olympic platform to promote peace and unity. Traditional winter sports powerhouses such as Norway, China, and the United States are widely expected to dominate the medal standings.
Also Read: Yuzvendra Chahal Picks Samson, Tilak in India XI for T20 World Cup Opener
India will be represented by two athletes at Milano Cortina 2026. Arif Mohammad Khan has qualified in alpine skiing, while Stanzin Lundup will compete in cross-country skiing. Arif previously made history at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics by becoming the first Indian to qualify directly for two alpine skiing events—slalom and giant slalom.
India’s association with the Winter Olympics began in 1964, four decades after the inaugural Games in 1924. Including the 2026 edition, India has participated in 11 Winter Olympics, with 17 athletes representing the country so far. Luger Shiva Keshavan remains India’s most experienced Winter Olympian, having competed in six editions. Despite consistent participation, India is still chasing its first Winter Olympic medal.
Also Read: Bangladesh Captain Nigar Sultana Joty Rises in Rankings After Perfect Qualifiers
