Italy To Host The 2026 Winter OIympics

As Spring is finally in the air, let's think again about Winter. It is now less than a year until the next Winter Olympics. Next year, Italy will host the 2026 Winter Olympics after a successful joint bid with Milano-Cortina. After a close result with fellow contenders Sweden, Milano-Cortina won 47 votes to Stockholm-Are’s 34 votes.

Though this would have been a first for Sweden, who have never hosted the Winter games before, Italy just outdid them to become hosts of the game once more.

The 2026 Winter Olympics will take place from the 6th to the 22nd of February, with the Winter Paralympics held from the 6th to the 15th of March.

New Winter Events

Thus far, we have seen 109 sports events in the most recent Winter Olympics, Beijing 2022, across 15 disciplines in 7 sports. However, it has been declared that the 2026 Winter Olympics will include 116 events in 16 disciplines: Alpine Skiing, Biathlon, Bobsleigh, Cross-Country Skiing, Curling, Figure Skating, Freestyle Skiing, Ice Hockey, Luge, Nordic Combined, Short-track Speed Skating, Skeleton, Ski Jumping, Ski Mountaineering, Snowboarding, Speen Skating. 2026 will also see the addition of a new sport with Ski Mountaineering added to the schedule!

New Medal Events:

• Men and Women's Dual Moguls in Freestyle Skiing

• Men and Women's Doubles in Luge

• Men and Women's Team Alpine Combined

• Women's Large Hill Individual in Ski Jumping

• Mixed Relay Team in Skeleton

In an exciting development, the games are also due to have the highest women's participation in Winter Olympic history with 47% of athletes due to be women. And for the first time ever women will race the same distances in cross-country skiing as the male athletes.

Who's Tipped To Be The Highest Medal Scorers?

It is hard to predict who will be the highest medal scorers of any Olympic Games, as the four year period between games gives each team the opportunity to improve and out-perform a former favourite. However, we can take into consideration which Olympic teams were the highest medal scorers of the most recent Winter Olympics in 2022, and who notoriously do well at the Winter Games.

Previously, the four top performers have predominantly been the United States, Canada, Germany and Norway, having dominated the last couple of Winter Olympics, with Russia and Austria also performing well in previous years. In 2022, Norway topped the medal table with Germany and United States coming second and third respectively.

Let's Have a Look at Some o the Best Winter Olympians from Recent History

Lizzy Yarnold

Lizzy Yarnold is one of Britain’s most successful Winter Olympians, winning consecutive gold medals in skeleton at Sochi 2014 and Pyeongchang 2018. She set an Olympic track record in 2018 and carried the flag for Team GB. An inspiring athlete and speaker, Yarnold is a brilliant choice to motivate and engage audiences.

Torvill and Dean

Torvill and Dean are exceptional Winter Olympians, with 16 gold medals across major tournaments. Their iconic gold at the 1984 Sarajevo Olympics dancing to Boléro is one of the greatest moments in sporting history. They received twelve perfect 6.0s and six 5.9s making them the highest-scoring figure skaters of all time for a single programme, their performace was watched by over 24 million people.

Eddie Edwards

Eddie "The Eagle" Edwards became an iconic figure in the 1988 Winter Olympics as Great Britain's first-ever ski jumper. Despite finishing last in both the Normal Hill and Large Hill events, his determination and unique personality made him a beloved underdog. He held the British ski jumping record until 2001.

Eve Muirhead

Eve Muirhead is a Scottish curler from Perth who led Great Britain to Olympic gold at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. A four-time Olympian, she also won bronze in Sochi 2014. Muirhead’s leadership and success on the ice, including being a flag bearer, make her a sought-after speaker for motivation and inspiration.

Jenny Jones

Jenny Jones made history as the first Briton to win an Olympic medal in a snow event, securing bronze in slopestyle at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. In recognition of her achievements, she was awarded the Pery Medal by the Ski Club of Great Britain. After retiring in 2022, she now presents for BBC Ski Sunday, covering events like the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

Kelly Gallagher

Kelly Gallagher is a retired British skier, who made history as the first athlete from Northern Ireland to compete in the Winter Paralympics. At the Sochi 2014 Games, Kelly won Britain's first-ever Winter Paralympic gold medal in the visually impaired Super-G event. Gallagher was honoured with an MBE for her achievements.

James Woods

James Woods is a British freestyle skier who competed in the 2014 Sochi and 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, finishing fifth and fourth in slopestyle. Despite not winning an Olympic medal, he has secured three World Championship medals, including a gold in 2019. Woods has also excelled in the Winter X Games, with a gold in 2017 and three bronze medals. His remarkable career makes him a respected speaker, inspiring athletes with his perseverance and achievements.

Josh Landmann

Josh Landmann is a determined Winter Olympic hopeful who was left partially paralysed after a 2014 accident. He excelled in sit-down skiing, winning the British Slalom Championship in 2017. Despite missing out on a Paralympic spot, Josh remains focused on his goal, with eyes set on the 2026 Games.

Book A Winter Olympian For Your Next Event Today

Want to learn more about the Winter Olympics? Why not book a Winter Olympic speaker for your next event. At Champions, we have a huge variety of fantastic Olympic speakers to choose from for your next event, function or conference.

To book a Winter Olympic speaker today via Champions Olympic Speakers, simply contact the Champions Olympic Speakers agency by filling in our online contact form or calling a booking agent directly on 02071010 553.