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Every Olympics is different and the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics promises to be another historic and groundbreaking edition of the Games.
The 25th edition of the greatest show on ice and snow will include several firsts.
Most notable is the addition of a new sport - ski mountaineering.
What is ski mountaineering?
Ski mountaineering combines the technical skills of both skiing and mountaineering, as athletes traverse mountainous terrains, skiing and climbing as they race against the clock.
The sport has uphill, downhill and transition phases where the athlete adjusts their equipment according to the needs of the terrain.
It is held in various elimination rounds up to the final, in which the medals are awarded. The normal duration of the race is around 3.5 minutes per heat.
The mixed relay consists of two ascents, plus a section on foot with skis attached to a backpack for each ascent, and two descents.
Read more: What is ski mountaineering?
What are the other new sports at Milano Cortina 2026?
Eight new events will debut across various disciplines, with major steps being taken towards gender parity in Olympic competition.
Mixed team skeleton promises to be an exciting addition, comprising one male and one female athlete from each nation.
In luge, there will be the introduction of women’s doubles, a move that ensures women have the same medal opportunities as men in the sport.
Mixed team skeleton is a new Olympic event for @milanocortina26.
— Team GB (@TeamGB) January 29, 2023
Britain just won 🥈 and 🥉 at the World Championships! pic.twitter.com/YbgWcnpNRb
In ski jumping, women’s large hill ski jumping will also make its debut, providing female athletes with the opportunity to compete at the same level as the men on a larger hill.
The addition of dual moguls will see athletes go head-to-head on the bumpy course for the first time while women will now race over the same distance as men in cross-country skiing.
How many athletes will there be at Milano Cortina 2026?
There will be 2,900 athletes participating, 1,538 of which are men and 1,362 are women.
This edition will feature the highest level of female representation at a Winter Games, with women accounting for 47% of all athletes, rising from 40% at Sochi 2014.
Team GB sent 50 athletes to the last Winter Olympics in Beijing.
When James Bond took centre stage at this former and future Olympic venue. 🏟️
— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) November 7, 2024
Learn more about the fascinating history of the Olympic Ice Stadium in Cortina d'Ampezzo, where the world's best curlers will compete in 2026.#MilanoCortina2026 @milanocortina26 #Curling… pic.twitter.com/CyVjtzrxRt
What about the hosts?
Milano Cortina 2026 will be different to previous Olympics due to the sheer distance between venues.
The venue plan combines the energy of one of the world's most stylish cities with stunning alpine backdrops that stretch across the whole of northern Italy.
Milan will host many indoor events, including skating and ice hockey, with the iconic San Siro Stadium expected to hold the ceremonies.
Cortina d'Ampezzo, steeped in winter sports history having hosted the Games in 1956, will host curling and sliding events while Bormio will be the home of freestyle skiing and snowboarding - with alpine skiing spread across the two.
Sportsbeat 2025