With exactly 100 days remaining until the grand opening of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, organisers are declaring that they “can see the finish line” — albeit with only limited time left to refine every detail.
Key Milestones & Countdown Markers
On October 29 2025, organisers marked the 100-day milestone ahead of the Games’ start on February 6 2026. At a ceremony in Milan, the complete design of the Games medals was revealed.
Giovanni Malagò, President of the Organising Committee, emphasised:
“We can see the finish line,” — followed by the caveat, “but even if the schedule is met, we can’t waste a single day before kickoff.”
Scope & Structure of the Games
The Milano-Cortina arrangement is notable for being geographically dispersed. Venues span from the urban metropolis of Milan to winter sports locales in the Italian Alps and the Dolomites, including Bormio, Val di Fiemme, Livigno and Cortina.
Key features:
- Opening ceremony: at Milan’s iconic San Siro Stadium (renamed Milano San Siro Olympic Stadium) with simultaneous parades in mountain venues.
- Two Olympic cauldrons: one in Milan, one in Cortina d’Ampezzo — a first in Winter Olympic history.
- Budget estimate: roughly €5.2 billion, or about US $6.05 billion — of which €3.5 billion is infrastructure.
Progress, Confidence & Remaining Challenges
Organisers express confidence that the vast majority of competition venues are ready or near-ready; one official noted that 85 % of venues are existing facilities or temporary setups rather than entirely new builds.
Still, not everything is smooth sailing:
- The new ice-hockey arena (Arena Santa Giulia in Milan) is still under construction. Organisers expect testing to start in January — just weeks before competition begins.
- A recent infrastructure audit found that of 94 planned projects tied to the Games, only 6 had been completed as of December 2024. The pace remains challenging.
Fan & Athlete Experience: A Focus of Innovation
Given the spread-out nature of the Games, organisers are working to ensure that wherever fans are, they feel part of the same celebration:
- “Champions Park” style zones each evening in multiple locations (Milan, Bormio, Val di Fiemme) to foster communal atmosphere.
- A unique promotional effort marking the 100-day countdown: a limited-edition “Olympic Rings Pasta” campaign celebrating Italian hospitality and creativity.
- Tickets: according to reports, ~800,000 out of ~1.2 million tickets had been sold, with availability remaining for certain disciplines, though many prime events are sold out or in hospitality packages.
Financial & Security Dimensions
Security is a top priority: Italy expects to mobilise around 11,000 police and military personnel to safeguard the event. On the finance side, while the overall budget is robust, data shows that many of the infrastructure projects have tight deadlines, emphasising the “final sprint” character of the development phase.
Why This Edition of the Games Matters
The 2026 Winter Olympics represent more than a sporting spectacle:
- A sustainability-oriented model: With the majority of venues pre-existing, organisers say this Games is about adapting infrastructure to the landscape, rather than transforming it.
- A national showcase: With venues across regions from Lombardy to Veneto and the Dolomites, the Games are designed to spread economic, tourism and media benefits across Italy.
- A return of NHL players for ice hockey: the 100-day countdown announcement highlighted how U.S. and Canadian NHL stars are preparing to return after 12 years.