As Ukrainian athletes prepare for the 2026 Winter Olympics, they will seek to boost the morale of their compatriots in Ukraine amid an ongoing war and a brutal winter.

The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, mark a historic moment for the Games. Not only because Italy is hosting for the first time since Torino 2006, but because these Olympics will be taking place in multiple locations, with venues scattered across the Italian Alps and Dolomites.

The 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics’ early events continued on day -1 ahead of Friday's opening ceremony. After opening the games on day -2 as the first event to start competitive play, curling continued with wins for the U.

Ninety-two nations will be present at the 25th edition of the Games, with nearly 3,000 athletes set to compete in 116 different events. However, not all countries will be represented at the major sporting event in Italy, as non-sporting action has once again led to certain countries being barred from competing.

Nearly four years after Vladimir Putin launched Europe’s deadliest war since World War II, Russia remains banned by the IOC although individual Russians can compete in the Olympics as

Russia's sports minister Mikhail Degtyarev believes that the Milan/Cortina Winter Olympics could be a turning point. "We are returning to world sports," Degtyarev has said in the run-up to Friday's opening ceremony.