2026 Winter Olympics: Ski Mountaineering Debuts as Investigations Continue

The 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy features the new sport of ski mountaineering. This is the first time athletes will compete in this uphill and downhill skiing event at the Games.
By Newsroom | Sports, Olympics |

The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, mark a significant shift with the introduction of ski mountaineering as a new Olympic sport. This event, which tests athletes' endurance and skill in both ascending and descending mountainous terrain, debuts alongside established disciplines like curling, ice hockey, and figure skating, forming a diverse program for the games. Live updates and schedules confirm ongoing competitions across various sports, with specific focus on the inaugural ski mountaineering events.

Event Overview and Schedule

The 2026 Winter Olympics commenced on February 6, 2026, with events continuing through February 22, 2026. A preliminary event, mixed doubles curling, began on February 4, 2026, two days before the opening ceremony. The games feature 16 disciplines within 8 sports, with a total of 2,871 athletes (1,533 men and 1,338 women) participating. The full schedule details daily medal events across a range of sports, including 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.

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Winter Olympics 2026: ski mountaineering, curling, ice hockey and more – live - 1

  • Key Dates: February 4 - February 22, 2026

  • Total Athletes: 2,871

  • Sports: 8

  • Disciplines: 16

Introduction of Ski Mountaineering

Ski mountaineering is the sole new sport at the 2026 Winter Olympics. This discipline demands significant physical exertion, requiring athletes to ski uphill and then rapidly ski downhill over multiple short intervals. The sport made its Olympic debut with sprint events.

  • Debut Event: Ski mountaineering sprint.

  • Athletic Demands: Uphill and downhill skiing, with repeated bursts of intense effort.

Venues and Locations

The 2026 Winter Olympics are spread across two main host cities and several specialized venues:

Winter Olympics 2026: ski mountaineering, curling, ice hockey and more – live - 2

  • Milan:

  • Milano Ice Skating Arena

  • Milano San Siro Olympic Stadium

  • Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena

  • Milano Speed Skating Stadium

  • Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena

  • Cortina d'Ampezzo:

  • Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium

  • Cortina Sliding Centre

  • Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre

  • Other Locations:

  • Anterselva Biathlon Arena

  • Stelvio Ski Centre

  • Livigno Snow Park and Aerials & Moguls Park

  • Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium

  • Predazzo Ski Jumping Stadium

  • Verona Olympic Arena

Mascots and Branding

The mascots for the Olympic Winter Games are Tina and Milo. The games' slogan is "It's Your Vibe."

Investigative Focus: Allegations of Irregularities

Concerns have been raised regarding the Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026, the organizing body. On May 21, 2024, financial authorities (Guardia di Finanza) conducted raids on offices associated with the foundation, Quibyt, and Deloitte. These actions were reportedly in response to alleged irregularities in sponsor selection, including claims of bid-rigging, improper payments, and questionable relationships between foundation officials and third parties. Investigations primarily target Deloitte, with accusations of corruption and bid-rigging directed at three individuals. Further scrutiny emerged in July 2025, when Milan's Prosecutor's Office initiated an inquiry into alleged corruption related to public works tenders for the Milan Olympic Village.

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  • Allegations: Bid-rigging, irregular payments, and questionable sponsor selection.

  • Entities Involved: Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026, Quibyt, Deloitte.

  • Timeline of Investigations: Raids in May 2024; Milan Prosecutor's Office investigation in July 2025.

Ski Mountaineering Competition Details

Initial reports from live updates indicate the progression of ski mountaineering events. The men's sprint semi-finals are underway, with athletes such as Ot Ferrer Martinez (Spain) and Arno Lietha (Switzerland) competing. In the women's sprint, Emily Harrop was noted as a favorite. The women's final has also commenced. Reports confirm that Switzerland's Marianne Fatton and Spain's Oriol Cardona Coll are the first Olympic gold medalists in ski mountaineering, securing victories in the women's and men's sprints, respectively.

  • Confirmed Gold Medalists:

  • Women's Sprint: Marianne Fatton (Switzerland)

  • Men's Sprint: Oriol Cardona Coll (Spain)

  • Key Athletes Mentioned: Ot Ferrer Martinez (Spain), Arno Lietha (Switzerland), Emily Harrop.

Broadcasting and Access

The Olympic Winter Games are being broadcast live in various territories worldwide. Information regarding how to attend the games is available on the official "How to Attend the Games" page. Broadcast details for specific events, such as curling matches involving the USA, are also being provided.

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Source Attributions

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is new at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina?
Ski mountaineering is a new sport at the 2026 Winter Olympics. It tests athletes' skills in skiing both uphill and downhill on mountains.
Q: Who won the first gold medals in ski mountaineering at the 2026 Winter Olympics?
Marianne Fatton from Switzerland won the women's sprint gold, and Oriol Cardona Coll from Spain won the men's sprint gold.
Q: When are the 2026 Winter Olympics happening?
The 2026 Winter Olympics started on February 6, 2026, and will end on February 22, 2026. Some events began earlier, on February 4, 2026.
Q: Are there any problems with the 2026 Winter Olympics organizers?
Yes, financial authorities searched offices in May 2024 because of worries about how sponsors were chosen. There are claims of bid-rigging and wrong payments. A separate inquiry started in July 2025 about corruption in public works tenders.
Q: How many athletes are competing in the 2026 Winter Olympics?
A total of 2,871 athletes are taking part in the 2026 Winter Olympics. This includes 1,533 men and 1,338 women.
Q: Where are the events for the 2026 Winter Olympics taking place?
The games are spread across Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo in Italy, with events also held in other locations like Anterselva, Stelvio, and Livigno.