Italy is set to unveil several groundbreaking innovations at the upcoming 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympic Winter Games, as the host country prepares to welcome the world's top winter sports athletes and visitors from around the world, said Luciano Buonfiglio, president of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) during an interview with China Media Group in Italy on Monday.
The 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympic Winter Games will run from February 6 to 22, with approximately 2,900 athletes expected to participate. This will be Italy's first Winter Olympics in 20 years, following the Turin 2006 Games, and it will take place 70 years after Cortina d'Ampezzo hosted the 1956 edition. The Milan-Cortina Paralympic Winter Games will be held from March 6 to 15, 2026, featuring six sports and 79 medal events.
"Italy is one of the most experienced countries in hosting major international sporting events. We will host the Olympic Games for the fourth time, following the Cortina d’Ampezzo 1956 Winter Olympics, Rome 1960 Summer Olympics, and Turin 2006 Winter Olympics. In 2026, which marks the 20th anniversary of the Turin Games, Italy will once again host the Winter Olympics, and this edition will feature many firsts," Buonfiglio said.
He highlighted the exciting features of the upcoming Olympics.
"Why do I say it's a great event? Because it is an Olympics of many firsts. For the first time, the Games will be staged across multiple regions, so there will be main and second opening ceremony venues; a dual cauldron design will be used, and four flag-bearers will enter the venue holding the Italian flags at the two sub-venues in Milan and Cortina respectively. We are very proud of this. As preparations are currently completed, the opening ceremony in Milan will take place as scheduled. All of the competition venues have been completed and tested, and we are ready to welcome the world," Buonfiglio said.
Italy fully prepared to host Games, ready to welcome world: CONI president
Finland's Prime Minister Petteri Orpo is on a four-day official visit to China, leading a delegation of executives from more than 20 Finnish companies seeking new business opportunities.
Christoph Vitzthum, president and CEO of the Finnish food company Fazer Group, is among the delegation. He said the trip to China has provided him a new insight into the development of Chinese consumer market.
"It's remarkable to see how the Chinese consumer has developed and how much we as a company can learn from the Chinese market. Needless to say, the market is vast, but you have to be able to be relevant in a market. And if you see one of the big consumer trends in China, it's the same that we have been seeing in Europe for some years. That's health and well-being - less sugar, less fat, more fiber, more healthy products. As the Chinese economy has developed, as the Chinese middle class has grown significantly, these themes are also now prevalent in the Chinese market," said Vitzthum.
Vitzthum said competition and consumer choice are beneficial for market growth and category expansion allows brands to differentiate themselves and strengthen brand positioning.
"The consumer in general loves choice. I don't see the competition as a problem. I see the category growth, be it in grain-based products or be it in chocolate, is a good thing. If you take for example milk chocolate, the Karl Futzer brand, which we have launched in China. In China, it's the only brand that is made from fresh milk. And when we have studied this with consumers, it resonates very well with the Chinese consumer. By comparing to alternatives, you can really promote your own brand and bring the things that we are standing for," he said.
As part of the agenda of Orpo's visit to Beijing, Chinese and Finnish enterprises signed multiple commercial agreements on Monday at the sixth meeting of the China-Finland Committee for Innovative Business Cooperation.
Business leaders of the two countries engaged in lively discussions on cooperation in many fields including innovation, green development and digitalization.
Fazer CEO sees new opportunities for business cooperation with China
