MILAN (KNWA/KFTA) — The countdown rolls on to Milan Cortina 2026, where eight new Olympic events will make their debut in Italy.
Nearly four years before the Winter Games in Milan and Cortina, the International Olympic Committee finalized the events, including one new sport never before seen in the Olympic Games.
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, ITALY – NOVEMBER 21: Milano Cortina logos are seen on November 21, 2025 in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. Cortina D’Ampezzo is a Host City for the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and will host Sliding, Curling and Women’s Alpine events. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Ski mountaineering will make its debut in Italy. Sometimes referred to as “skimo,” ski mountaineering combines elements of Alpine and cross-country skiing into a race with physical and technical challenges.
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Athletes complete a course that consists of an ascent, descent and a foot section with skis attached to an athlete’s backpack.
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Here’s how NBC Sports describes the sport:
“During the ascent, athletes have skins on their skis, which help them grip the snow to climb up the course. On-foot sections require the athletes to remove their skis and complete the section in their boots. For the descent, athletes remove their skins and complete the downhill section of the course, which contains gates. Most events consist of a variety of stages including heats, semifinals and a final, with the fastest athlete in the final being declared the winner.”
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In addition to ski mountaineering, these are the other new events set to make their debut in existing sports:
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Freestyle skiing: men’s and women’s dual moguls
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Open luge: women’s doubles
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Skeleton: mixed-gender team event
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Ski jumping: women’s large hill event
There is one sport that will not return in Italy after being a part of the Winter Games in Beijing in 2022 and PyeongChang in 2018: the alpine skiing mixed team parallel event.
No reason has been given by IOC as to why the event was discontinued, however, Team USA said in 2022 the athlete quota spots would be reallocated among the sports to keep the total number of athletes at 2,900.
The 2026 Winter Olympics run from Feb. 6 through Feb. 22 and will air on KNWA, NBC networks and streaming on Peacock.
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