Cortina Olympic Village welcomes athletes ahead of 2026 Games

The Cortina d'Ampezzo Olympic and Paralympic Village opened its doors to the media on Tuesday, offering an early look at the timber-cabin settlement that will house international delegations during the opening phase of the 2026 Winter Olympics.

The Olympic rings are seen at the Olympic Village ahead of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Feb. 3, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhang Haofu)

Set in a narrow Alpine valley, the village is made up of compact wooden cabins arranged across the site. Those assigned to China's delegation feature national flags on the windows, panda motifs beneath the eaves, and red-and-yellow panels bearing "Go China!" slogans in English, Chinese and Italian.

China's bobsleigh team arrived in Cortina on Monday and held its first training session on Tuesday morning. Luge athletes Bao Zhenyu and Wang Peixuan were also on the ice, completing track training at the Cortina Sliding Center.

"The village is nestled in a valley with beautiful scenery," said Wang, who is competing at his second Winter Olympics. "It really gives you a sense of being close to nature."

Several team members noted that while they had previously competed in World Cup events in Cortina, staying in an Olympic Village represented a clear step up in atmosphere and experience.

Cortina d'Ampezzo first hosted the Winter Olympics in 1956 and will again stage curling, bobsleigh, luge, skeleton and selected Alpine skiing events during the 2026 Games.