The first Olympic ski mountaineering competitions are underway in Italy as part of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, which began on February 6th and will continue through February 22nd. The event, a fresh addition to the Olympic program, is being hosted across Lombardy and Northeast Italy.
Swiss athletes are competing for medals in the inaugural ski mountaineering events. Reports indicate that both Swiss women have qualified to compete for medals, with the team described as strategically prepared and determined to succeed. The competitions involve athletes ascending and descending slopes on skis, utilizing specialized equipment for the challenging terrain.
Ski mountaineering, while new to the Olympics, has historical roots stretching back to prehistoric times, evolving from a practical means of traversing mountainous regions to a competitive sport. The 2026 Winter Olympics feature 116 events across 8 sports, with a total of 2,871 athletes – 1,533 men and 1,338 women – participating.
The opening ceremony of the Games was held at the Stadio San Siro in Milan, with President Sergio Mattarella officiating. The Olympic cauldron was lit by Italian ski legends Deborah Compagnoni and Alberto Tomba in Milan, and Sofia Goggia in Cortina d’Ampezzo. The closing ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Verona Arena.
The 2026 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XXV Winter Olympic Games, follow the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and precede the French Alps 2030 Games. Italy last hosted the Winter Olympics in 1956.
