Olympics-Italy starts countdown to 2026 Milano-Cortina Games

Milano-Cortina 2026 - IOC president Thomas Bach attends event to mark one-year countdown - Milan, Italy, February 6, 2025 General view of International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach with Italy National Olympic Committee president Giovanni Malago and members on stage during the ceremony REUTERS/Daniele Mascolo

MILAN (Reuters) -Italy began the one-year countdown to the Winter Olympics on Thursday with a series of events designed to fuel enthusiasm for the Games that will be co-hosted by Milan and the Alpine town of Cortina d'Ampezzo.

The Olympics will run from February 6-22, 2026, with the Paralympics to follow in March. It is the first time the Winter Games have been held in Europe since Italy staged them in Turin in 2006 and comes at a time when climate change is making life tougher for traditional skiing venues.