31 March 2025 - Delegations from around the world gathered in Milan from 24 to 30 March for the first-ever joint Olympic and Paralympic Chefs de Mission Seminar, marking a key step in preparations for Milano Cortina 2026.
With less than a year to go until Milano Cortina 2026, the Chefs de Mission Seminar provided team leaders with invaluable insights, equipping them with essential knowledge and connections to support their athletes and staff during the upcoming Winter Games.
Delegates had the opportunity to engage directly with Organising Committee experts, gaining first-hand insights into key operations and services, while also touring several host venues—valuable experiences that will help them finalise their teams’ preparations over the coming months.
On 25 March, more than 100 representatives visited the Olympic and Paralympic Village in Milan, and toured both the Milan Ice Skating Arena and the new Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. These visits continued beyond Milan throughout the week, with trips to the mountain clusters of Bormio and Livigno, Cortina d'Ampezzo, Val di Fiemme and Anterselva, offering delegates valuable insights into the unique multi-hub model of these Games.
Discussing this widespread and innovative format of the Games with delegates, Andrea Varnier, CEO of Milano Cortina 2026, said: “These are the characteristics that make Milano Cortina 2026 a truly pioneering edition of the Winter Games. I am certain that the athletes' experience here in Milan and in the other clusters will be memorable and will contribute to achieving one of the key objectives of Milano Cortina 2026: to promote the importance of winter sports, to show the world how spectacular they can be, while implementing a new delivery model that could pave the way for other Organising Committees.”
Continuing on this topic, Varnier explained that, in line with the recommendations of Olympic Agenda 2020, 85 per cent of competition venues are either existing or temporary, while efforts to deliver the Games are being further strengthened through close collaboration with local institutions and sports event experts in the host regions.
The Milano Cortina 2026 CEO also highlighted the Organising Committee’s commitment to creating a more efficient and integrated Games model, in close collaboration with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and other key stakeholders.
In this respect, the seminar marked the first time that National Olympic Committees and National Paralympic Committees had come together for a jointly organised event, reflecting the strong partnership between the IOC and IPC.
Speaking about this, Varnier said: “The Chefs de Mission Seminar is a fundamental step in the last sprint on the road to the next Winter Games. For the first time, this seminar welcomes the Olympic and Paralympic delegations together, and this is a practical example of the optimisation that involves us every day, together with the IOC and the IPC. In a way, ‘optimisation’ is the name of these Games.”
The Chefs de Mission welcomed the opportunity to engage directly with organisers and gain first-hand insight into Games preparations. Team GB’s Chef de Mission, Olympic curling champion Eve Muirhead, shared her reflections on social media, describing the experience as:
An incredible few days of learning, connecting with fellow leaders, and getting a glimpse of what promises to be unforgettable Olympic Winter Games. Exciting times ahead!
Eve Muirhead, Team GB’s Chef de Mission
The Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 will take place from 6 to 22 February 2026, and the Paralympic Winter Games from 6 to 15 March. Fans can stay informed about the latest ticketing updates and exclusive hospitality offers to secure their place at Milano Cortina 2026, where the world’s best winter athletes will compete in an unforgettable celebration of sport.
