The start of 2026 finds the Olympic Movement at a moment of transition and expectation. In her New Year’s Message, the president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Kirsty Coventry, shared a reflection marked by gratitude, active listening and commitment to a community that has supported her during her first months at the head of the IOC. Her words convey closeness and a clear awareness of the human value of Olympism beyond competition.
That spirit of dialogue and collective building carries into a year that promises historic milestones. With major events on the horizon and internal reflection processes already underway, Coventry positions 2026 as a meeting point between tradition and the future, where athletes, organizations and territories will be protagonists of a shared vision.
An Olympic year that connects tradition, innovation and people
In just a few weeks, the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games will open the Olympic calendar in Italy, a country deeply linked to sporting culture. The IOC president highlighted the symbolism of a torch already traveling across the territory, connecting communities and generating enthusiasm in regions where winter sports are part of everyday life.
Milano Cortina is presented as a new generation of Winter Games: built on existing venues, set against iconic landscapes and marked by significant advances in gender equality. For Coventry, these Games hold special meaning as the first under her presidency, reinforcing her commitment to an event that is successful for athletes, for the host country and for the entire Olympic Movement.
Looking to the future from Africa and through collective reflection
Later in the year, the Olympic focus will shift to Africa with the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, the first Olympic event to be held on African soil. Coventry, proud of her African roots, подчеркed the historic character of these Games, conceived as a platform to showcase the energy, creativity and optimism of the continent, while inspiring young people around the world.
In parallel, the IOC is advancing the “Ready for the Future” consultation, a participatory process involving the entire Olympic community. The exchange of ideas and open debates are already shaping concrete proposals that will define the direction of the Olympic Movement in the coming years, strengthening a shared vision based on unity, purpose and preparedness for future challenges.
