Spain, a country not typically known for winter sports in Europe, is actively and systematically ramping up its preparations as the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics approaches.
The southern European nation will send about 20 athletes to compete in disciplines such as alpine skiing, snowboarding, and figure skating.
The country is developing a comprehensive talent pipeline through a tiered training system that integrates "club-region-national teams," facilitating a progression from early youth engagement to professional training and competitive selection.
A prime example of the training framework is 15-year-old skier Alejandro, who shared his experience at the Sierra Nevada ski resort in Granada, Spain.
"My parents brought me here when I was about two years old, and then I began training with a private coach on weekends. My parents recognized my passion for the sport, and at four, they enrolled me in a club. I've been competing ever since. My goal is to participate in the World Cup with the national team one day," Alejandro said.
While strengthening its youth training system, Spain is closely observing global trends in winter sports, especially China's remarkable progress during the Beijing Winter Olympics.
By focusing on strategic planning, leveraging technological support, and developing a robust training system, Spain and other non-traditional winter sports nations are adopting effective models of talent development.
"China has achieved remarkable accomplishments in sports over the past few years. It has aligned investment and intelligence in the planning of international events and made breakthroughs during the Olympics. Additionally, China has worked hard to create a program that allows any athlete to reach that level," said Olmo Hernan, the general director of the Royal Spanish Winter Sports Federation (RFEDI).
The 2026 Olympic Winter Games will open on February 6 at Milan's San Siro Olympic Stadium, with around 2,900 athletes expected to take part. It will be Italy's first Winter Olympics in 20 years since Turin 2006, and 70 years after Cortina d'Ampezzo hosted the 1956 edition.
Spain prepares athletes for Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics
Spain prepares athletes for Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics
Spain prepares athletes for Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics
China's two major power grid operators -- the State Grid Corporation of China (State Grid) and China Southern Power Grid (CSG) -- reported a surge in investment in the first quarter of 2026, underscoring efforts to strengthen infrastructure construction and support high-quality socioeconomic development in China.
The State Grid said it completed fixed-asset investment worth 129 billion yuan (about 18.77 billion U.S. dollars) in the first three months of this year, up 37 percent the corresponding period of the previous year. The spending has driven more than 250 billion yuan (36 billion U.S. dollars) of investment across the wider industrial chain.
Key projects such as the Panxi ultra-high-voltage (UHV) alternating current (AC) line and the Anhui-Hubei back-to-back direct current (DC) project have seen ground broken for their construction, while several west-to-east power transmission projects have been upgraded.
Investment in connecting renewable energy generation to the grid was reported to have exceeded 10 billion yuan (1.45 billion U.S. dollars) from January to March, a year-on-year rise of more than 50 percent.
The CSG also reported robust growth in investment in the three-month period, with fixed-asset investment reaching 38.45 billion yuan (5.58 billion U.S. dollars), up about 50 percent from a year earlier.
Among its achievements, the company completed and commissioned 80 key projects, including the 220 kV cross-sea power grid interconnection project, which was officially put into operation on March 20. The project ended years of grid isolation on the Weizhou Island in south China by linking it to the main power system of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
The construction of 17 other major energy projects, including one linking the power grid of the Xizang Autonomous Region in southwest China with that of Guangdong Province in south China, is advancing rapidly. These projects are expected to bolster regional industries, the maritime economy, digital collaboration and the transition to green energy.
"By accelerating major project construction, investment during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030) is expected to approach 1 trillion yuan (145 billion U.S. dollars), driving a further 2 trillion yuan (290 billion U.S. dollars) of investment across upstream and downstream industries," said Dong Yanle, deputy general manager of the Engineering Construction Department under the China Southern Power Grid.
China ramps up power grid investment in January-March to boost growth
