Mountain skiing will continue to strengthen its presence in the Olympic movement and return to the Winter Youth Olympic Games at Dolomiti Valtellina 2028. Following its debut at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, the discipline will have another opportunity to reach younger generations, returning to an event where it first appeared at Lausanne 2020.
The decision was approved by the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), following a proposal from the Dolomiti Valtellina 2028 Organising Committee. The competitions will take place in the region of Valtellina, in Lombardy, and will feature 48 athletes, equally divided between 24 women and 24 men, competing for medals across five events.
Mountain skiing returns with five events at Dolomiti Valtellina 2028
The approved sports programme includes five events showcasing different aspects of mountain skiing. The competition will feature men’s and women’s sprint races, individual events in both categories and a mixed relay, a format that combines male and female athletes in the same competition. This structure aims to provide a balanced competitive environment and highlight the different specialities of a discipline that demands physical endurance, technical ability and significant adaptability to mountain conditions.
A total of 48 young athletes will have the opportunity to participate in this edition, with 24 women and 24 men represented. The inclusion of the mixed relay also reinforces the commitment to gender equality within the Olympic programme, while the individual and sprint events will allow athletes to demonstrate their skills across different formats. For many of them, Dolomiti Valtellina 2028 will represent an opportunity to compete on an international stage and gain experience in a discipline that has been gaining prominence in winter sports.
From Lausanne 2020 to its Olympic debut at Milano-Cortina 2026
The return of mountain skiing to the Winter Youth Olympic Games represents another step in its international development. The discipline made its first appearance at the event during Lausanne 2020, where it became part of a platform designed to promote young sporting talent. Six years later, it reached another milestone with its debut at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, increasing its global exposure and consolidating its presence on the Olympic calendar.
The Valtellina region will play a special role in this journey, as it was one of the venues that hosted the first Olympic mountain skiing competitions during Milano-Cortina 2026 and will welcome the discipline again in 2028. Furthermore, its continued presence is already confirmed for the Alpes 2030 Winter Olympic Games, demonstrating the growing prospects of the sport within the Olympic programme. Mountain skiing will therefore feature across different levels of the Olympic movement, from youth competitions to the highest stage of winter sports.
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