IOC president tours Olympic partner activations ahead of Milan-Cortina 2026 opening

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry visited a series of Olympic partner showcases in Milan on Thursday as she sampled some of the innovative fan experiences that are being launched for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.

The Games are set to officially get underway with Friday's much-anticipated opening ceremony at Milan's iconic San Siro Stadium, with competitions running through to Feb 22.

During a tour of the Olympic installations which have been set up across Milan, Coventry highlighted the important role of new technology and the value of partnerships in bringing the event closer to global audiences.

Among the stops was an interactive exhibit by Chinese sci-tech company TCL, whose activation has transformed a central Milan square into an immersive digital experience.

As the countdown to the Games continues, Coventry commended the many "awesome" installations that have been put in place by the IOC's partners, and highlighting the growing sense of anticipation as everyone looks ahead to the sporting extravaganza finally getting underway.

"We're very excited, the excitement on the ground is building and building, and I think now we're so close to the opening ceremony, everyone's like: 'let's go let's go!' So, I hope that really gets everyone inspired around the city to come out and celebrate the Games and to share in the inspirational moments that we're going to see in the next few days," Coventry said.

The TCL activation underscores the growing role of Chinese sci-tech companies in building up the visual and interactive infrastructure for world-class events, helping connect audiences across continents.

Wang Cheng, the newly-appointed CEO of the TCL Technology Group Corporation, noted the prominent role Chinese firms are playing at such international showcases.

"I believe the trend of China's sci-tech industry empowering major international events is becoming increasingly evident, and is actively unfolding. This isn't limited to TCL. Alibaba, another key partner in the Games, is also making significant contributions. Its cloud-based technologies will ensure that sports events are broadcast in higher definition with minimal legacy, playing a crucial role in the Olympics. These efforts highlight the sci-tech innovation capabilities of Chinese enterprises. So seeing Chinese companies take on such significant roles on major international stages, and at global events, I am very confident that more and more such companies and success stories will emerge in the future," he said.

The Games are being jointly hosted by the global metropolis of Milan and the Alpine mountain town of Cortina d'Ampezzo. Roughly 2,900 athletes from around the world are expected to compete for a total of 116 gold medals.

IOC president tours Olympic partner activations ahead of Milan-Cortina 2026 opening

International cruise ships brought more than 8,000 tourists to Shanghai over the past weekend, underscoring the growing momentum of the city's tourism market.

Last Saturday, two cruise ships, the Spectrum of the Seas and Mein Schiff 6, arrived in Shanghai with nearly 6,000 tourists, setting a new single day record for daily inbound arrivals at the city's Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal.

Two more ships, the MSC Magnifica and Adora Magic City, arrived the next day, docking alongside Mein Schiff 6. For the first time this year, the terminal received three cruise ships docked simultaneously.

Impressed by China's customs services, tourists shared their feelings after landing.

"The service is very good, very fast. Everything is very quick," said a tourist.

"We're going to Disneyland. It's a cool trip," another tourist expressed her expectations.

During the two-day period, Shanghai port handled more than 20,000 passenger entries and exits, more than half of which were made by international travelers. Over 90 percent of them are benefiting from the visa-free policies.

"[I traveled from] Chengdu to here. I'm here to Beijing and Beijing to the UK," a tourist talked about his schedule, whose destinations in China all covered in the visa-free policies.

"Very good, excellent policy, and anything that reduces the amount of time. We had a week in ten days in China already, then we're gonna come back into the city to do some shopping," another senior visitor said.

Authorities have also introduced measures to improve the visa process.

"To ensure a smooth entry, officials will get on the ships in advance to perform inspections. So, passengers can start their trips as soon as they disembark. While at the airports, we have also provided an online submission system for arrival cards. That will also save their time," said Zhu Xiaoxiang, Deputy Director of Immigration Inspection Division under Shanghai General Station of Immigration Inspection.

So far this year, Shanghai's customs and immigration agents have processed more than ten million visitors, with 305,000 international passenger trips through cruise terminals, marking a prosperous tourism market.

Over 8,000 cruise passengers touch down in Shanghai, providing major tourism boost