2026 Winter Olympics Take Place Amongst Unique World Heritage Sites

The 2026 Winter Olympics have kicked off in Milano Cortina. From The Dolomites to Milan to Verona, athletes from around the world meet to exemplify their athletic prowess and proudly wear their countries’ colors. In an event that the whole world witnesses, history, heritage, and regional representation mean the most as Olympians strive for gold.

The Dolomites

Arenas for the Olympic games span across Northern Italy. Snowboarding, alpine skiing, and so much more are taking place in the heart of The Dolomites, the primary venue for the games and a World Heritage Site. Earning its inscription on the World Heritage List in 2009, the mountain range in the northern Italian alps reaches over 9,800 feet in elevation and boasts beautiful landscapes stretching close to 550 miles.

The Dolomites site earned its World Heritage designation due to the distinctive natural beauty that makes it one of the most extraordinary landscapes in the world, as well as the significant earth science values it holds. Five provinces of Italy collaborate and maintain the management and protection of the area, so a tight line was walked prioritizing this protection with the integration of infrastructure necessary for the Winter Olympic Games and the accommodations for increased tourism.

Milan

Southwest of the Dolomites location awaits another World Heritage Site in Milan, which will be flooded with tourists and athletes attending this alternate location for the Games. The Church and Dominican Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie was built throughout the 15th century complete with “The Last Supper” by Leonardo da Vinci, which was painted between 1495 and 1497. This pairing makes for one of the most renowned World Heritage Sites around the world and is a testament to the artistic innovation of the Renaissance era.

In addition, Milan is home to the Duomo di Milano, the Gothic cathedral in the heart of the city that took over six centuries to complete and features 3,400 hand crafted statues. Milan is also a part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network as a pillar in literary history and events.

Multiple venues in Milan are playing host to competitors in figure skating, speed skating, and ice hockey, with the Opening Ceremony taking place in the Milano San Siro Olympic Stadium. San Siro is known as the “Temple of Football,” witnessing incredible soccer matches over the years and now bringing in athletes from different sport disciplines.

Verona

Outside of Milan sits Verona, another beautiful Italian city, location for the Winter Olympic Games, and World Heritage Site. Founded all the way in the first century B.C., The City of Verona’s historical structures and blending of centuries of cultures is truly one of a kind. Monuments have stood impressively since the medieval and Renaissance periods as a signal of the city’s past fortification and later commitment to heritage preservation.

Within the city, “The Arena” is a Roman amphitheater dating back to Verona’s origins and still hosting entertainment. What city could be better to display the Closing Ceremony and Opening Ceremony of the Paralympics than one that has been enriched by momentous events and celebrations at an iconic venue for centuries? The Winter Olympic Games Closing Ceremony will recognize the achievements and presence of all of the countries and the Paralympic Winter Games Opening Ceremony will kick off the competitions for athletes with disabilities.

Philadelphia Representation

Philadelphia continues to show its influence on the globe with great organizations and individuals representing our region overseas. Headquartered in Philadelphia, Comcast NBCUniversal has remained a giant in the entertainment provider industry for decades, and has taken center stage during the Olympics as the primary media provider for the United States.

Comcast’s streaming service, Peacock, provides viewers with coverage of all of the Olympic sports, prioritizing user experience and access to all events and teams, not just competitions involving Team USA. Comcast first enhanced access for viewers during the Paris Olympics in 2024, providing coverage to over 30 million viewers over the course of the Summer Olympic Games.

Several Olympic competitors have Philadelphia-area ties as well. 18 year old Isabeau Levito was born in Philadelphia and currently lives in South Jersey. She will compete in figure skating and was a 2023 world champion and 2024 world silver medalist. A five-time national curling champion, Taylor Anderson-Heide grew up in Broomall and trains in Paoli, hoping to earn gold for Team USA.

Andrew Heo is a speed skater who grew up in Warrington, just north of Philadelphia. Heo’s family owns an auto shop in North Philly that financially supported his Olympic career, as he also competed in Beijing in 2022 and hopes to use that experience to his benefit this year.

Team USA seeks to earn every medal possible in these historic Olympics in Milano Cortina, a host region fit for the biggest stages and spectacular displays of athleticism that we are sure to witness this Winter.

Photos courtesy of CNN, San Siro Stadium, Milano Cortina, Olympics, Comcast Corporation, and Ita.travel.

Cover photo credit : https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/06/sport/gallery/opening-ceremony-winter-olympics-milan-cortina