Last Updated:
Athletes at the Cortina Olympic and Paralympic Village enjoy snowy Dolomites, trade national pins, and share camaraderie in trailers during the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Games.
Cortina Olympic Village is the temporary home for about 1,400 athletes, coaches and team members. (AP Photo)
Athletes at the Cortina Olympic and Paralympic Village gathered at an outdoor coffee stand on Tuesday, exchanging unique national team pins and soaking in the Dolomites’ atmosphere as snow steadily fell.
The village temporarily houses around 1,400 athletes, coaches, and team members during the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Games. They reside in 377 trailers in the Alpine valley, just a 10-minute drive from downtown Cortina. Another main Olympic Village is located in Milan.
“It’s such a fun environment here, among so many other athletes,” said American curler Cory Thiesse. “We live together, train together, eat together. Being at the base of the mountains is like a dream, waking up to see them each morning.”
Cortina hosts events in curling, women’s Alpine skiing, bobsled, luge, and skeleton. Athletes have decorated their mobile homes with flags and banners, showcasing their team spirit and reminders of home. Team Canada placed a red moose statue outside their lodgings, and the team’s security coordinator brushed freshly fallen snow off its back.
Each trailer is divided into two rooms, accommodating up to two people per room. The rooms are basic, with beds, a shower, and a toilet. Half of the trailers are wheelchair accessible for the Paralympics in March.
Nick Timmings, an Australian skeleton competitor, shares his room with his coach, who is also his twin brother. “Many people were worried about heating and plumbing in the trailers, but they’re warm and everything works well,” Timmings said. “I’m very comfortable.”
The village offers a fitness centre, recreational space, lounge, dining hall, massage rooms, and a prayer room. Ukrainian luger Nazarii Kachmar enjoys visiting common areas to meet athletes from other countries. He’s chatted with athletes from Canada, Romania, the U.S., and Latvia.
An outdoor coffee stand is a popular gathering spot. On Tuesday, athletes chatted while waiting for cappuccinos and espressos. De Aundre John, a bobsledder from Trinidad and Tobago, spotted American bobsledders and traded national pins with them.
John expressed amazement at being in the village, fulfilling his lifelong dream of becoming an Olympian. The Italian cuisine, particularly the lasagna, is a delightful bonus. In the dining hall, Swedish curling coach Alison Kreviazuk praised the desserts, especially the cannoli.
Tuesday was overcast, but on sunny days, athletes can see the ski centre as soon as they step out of their trailers, said village manager Eva Lune Wiggelendum. “We are surrounded by mountains in this valley,” she said. “It’s amazing. As you look outside, it’s snowing, creating a true Winter Olympics atmosphere.”
February 04, 2026, 09:26 IST
Read More
