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IOC President hails Milano Cortina 2026 as “truly successful” Games in final press conference
Details
Published: 22 February 2026
IOC President Kirsty Coventry has praised the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games as a “truly successful” edition that combined outstanding athlete performances, strong public support and record global engagement.
Speaking at the IOC’s closing press conference from the Main Media Centre in Milan, President Coventry thanked the Milano Cortina 2026 Organising Committee, volunteers and local communities across all host venues for delivering what she described as an exceptional Games experience.
“I don’t think you can be leaving these Games not feeling inspired by what we’ve been seeing on the field of play. It’s been amazing across all the venues and all the villages. To all the volunteers working in all these areas, thank you. You have had huge smiles and huge welcomes wherever we’ve gone,” the IOC President said.
Electric atmosphere and strong spectator support
President Coventry highlighted the atmosphere across the venues, pointing in particular to the biathlon competition, where 20,000 spectators created what she described as an extraordinary environment for the athletes.
“The atmosphere and the hospitality around all of the venues and the spectators have also been really incredible,” she said. “Those athletes had so much energy to lean off and cheer from.”
She also reflected on time spent at mountain venues, describing the setting as delivering “a true Olympic Winter Games” experience. The debut of ski mountaineering drew particular praise, with President Coventry noting the intensity of the event and the strong turnout of spectators despite heavy snowfall.
Widespread model delivers consistent athlete experience
Addressing questions about the multi-cluster format of Milano Cortina 2026, President Coventry said athlete feedback had been positive across all villages and competition venues.
She explained that, following consultation with the IOC Athletes’ Commission, the organisers prioritised consistency of services and experience in every village. “I’ve gone to every single village, and they are exactly the same,” she said, adding that some athletes felt the more intimate Opening Ceremony experiences in smaller host communities had allowed closer interaction with spectators.
She said the model had demonstrated that the Games could be delivered “in a new way of doing things, in a sustainable way of doing things,” surpassing expectations.
History-making performances and record-breaking digital engagement
Kirsty Coventry also noted that several nations had achieved historic milestones at Milano Cortina 2026, including Brazil securing its first ever Winter Olympic medal, prompting nationwide celebrations.