Winter Olympics countdown for Team SA

The countdown to the Milano–Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics has entered its final month, marking a major milestone for athletes and organisers as the Games draw closer.

The Olympic torch relay is already underway, signalling the shift from long-term planning to final preparations. The Games will be staged across Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, with 16 sports on the programme and 116 gold medals set to be awarded. Several events will make their Olympic debut.

The most geographically spread Winter Games

Milano–Cortina 2026 will be the most geographically dispersed Winter Olympics in history. Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo serve as the two main hubs, separated by roughly 400km by road.

Competition will also take place across three additional mountain clusters beyond Cortina. The closing ceremony is scheduled for Verona, around 160km east of Milan, adding another iconic Italian city to the Olympic footprint.

Team South Africa eyes return

South Africa is expected to return to the Winter Olympics for the first time since 2018. While the final Team SA squad has not yet been confirmed, the team is likely to include a small group of athletes, including cross-country skier Matt Smith.

In Milan’s city centre, a large countdown clock is now marking the final days to the opening of the Games, a visible reminder that the event is fast approaching.

Preparations gather pace

Event organisers say preparations remain largely on track. Snowmaking operations are progressing well, and most major infrastructure projects are nearing completion.

One of the key venues still under construction is the Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan. The arena is scheduled to host the first competition on 5 February and is expected to be ready for test events from 9 January.

As the final month ticks down, attention will increasingly turn to athlete selections, venue readiness, and the formal arrival of the world’s top winter sports competitors in Italy.