IOC President Kirsty Coventry celebrates volunteers at the heart of Milano Cortina 2026

International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry has been meeting some of the volunteers who are about to play a big part in delivering the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.

With only eight days until the Games begin President Coventry toured the Main Media Centre (MMC) and met the volunteers who will work on the first Olympic Games in Italy since the Torino 2006.

President Coventry told the volunteers: “You’re going to make these Games so special for millions of people. Thank you, thank you, thank you for everything that you have done and that you will be doing throughout the Games.

”Famed for their smiles, willingness to help and their Olympic spirit, Olympic volunteers help to make special Games’ memories for the athletes, fans and officials that they encounter in their different roles.

More of those special memories were created today, as President Coventry, Milano Cortina 2026 President Giovanni Malagò and about 100 volunteers met at the MMC. Gathering together for a group photo, the volunteers showed their Olympic spirit in a celebratory image that underlined their high spirits before the Games get underway.

President Coventry underlined to the volunteers the key role that they play in welcoming the world to their Games, “I’ve been to five Olympic Games and the volunteers during the Games were like the special secret source of magic. So, it is really exciting to be here with all of you. I can’t emphasize enough how the atmosphere is created around the Games by all of you, and all of the thousands of volunteers around Italy, because, a lot of the time, you are the first people that athletes, that their families, and that the fans get to come in contact with.

The IOC President continued with her own experience from London 2012: “I remember in London, you would get on the train and there were volunteers in all the train stations. And all the way from the train station to the Olympic Park, the volunteers were sitting on big chairs with microphones and they were like: “Zimbabwe! “How are you doing?” South Africa! Italy!”. Everyone was just like: “wow”. It was so cool and that excitement was just incredible for us as athletes because you felt the excitement and the passion of everyone around.

Video IOC – Zaga Deporte