As Milan Cortina 2026 opens, attention turns to security plans, Russia’s limited presence, and whether U.S. stars in figure skating and alpine can deliver.
The opening ceremony in Milan arrives Friday night, but the biggest storylines are already colliding off the ice. From security concerns to who is— and isn’t— competing, the next two weeks look loaded before a single medal is handed out.
Security at the Games: what role does “ICE” really play?
One of the most closely watched controversies heading into Milan Cortina 2026 isn’t about medals at all—it’s about security.. The question that followed the American delegation across the Atlantic was simple and emotionally charged: why were immigration enforcement officials at the center of attention in Minnesota showing up in Italy?
Misryoum reports that the U.S.. Olympic and Paralympic Committee confirmed it is not working with any Department of Homeland Security personnel. including ICE. to provide security for athletes during the Games.. Instead, Italian officials are leading security operations for competitors and National Olympic committees.
So why does the ICE label keep surfacing?. The picture is more nuanced.. DHS is described as having advised Italian organizers ahead of the Games. which is a common pattern for major international events.. A specific arm tied to Homeland Security Investigations is also expected to be positioned in Milan in support roles. including backing security for the U.S.. diplomatic contingent.. In other words. the terminology can sound like a direct role in athlete safety. but the operational control remains with Italian authorities.
For fans and families, the practical impact is clear: major competitions run on trust.. When security language crosses borders—especially when it connects to prior domestic turmoil—the nervous system of a host country and traveling delegations starts to react.. Even if the structure is routine for international events. the optics matter because they shape what people feel when they hear “security.”
Misryoum’s takeaway is that Milan’s organizers are trying to separate operational reality from political meaning.. The renaming of Team USA’s hospitality space from “The Ice House” to “The Winter House” isn’t a technical detail—it’s a public signal that the conversation is being handled as a cultural and political risk. not just a logistical one.
The absence that reshapes the medal map: Russia and Belarus
Winter Olympics rivalries often build on familiar duels, and in recent cycles, the U.S. vs. Russia narrative has been part of that rhythm. But Milan Cortina 2026 will be different, largely because of ongoing international sanctions and eligibility barriers.
Misryoum notes that Russia and Belarus face an additional hurdle beyond the standard suspension of teams: athletes must demonstrate support for the Olympic “peace mission. ” including a commitment referenced in the eligibility pledge.. That requirement comes on top of the broader suspension that followed the escalation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The numbers underscore how much the competition field has changed: only a small group—13 Russian athletes and seven from Belarus—have cleared the Individual Neutral Athlete Eligibility Review Panel.. These athletes are not competing under their national flags, and that matters.. Flags aren’t just symbols; they influence the psychological tempo of events. the storyline broadcast on screens. and the expectations fans assign to podium threats.
The knock-on effect is that other nations can’t simply plan their medal strategy around “the usual” power structure.. When you reduce a country’s presence—especially one associated with depth across disciplines—the overall medal distribution tends to broaden.. That can create openings for athletes who might otherwise be fighting for a smaller number of top-tier spots.
Misryoum also highlights how this shift adds extra pressure to athletes from other federations: if the field looks altered. the questions after each event inevitably become sharper.. Not “could you beat them?” but “can you win when the field is changed?” That’s the kind of mental math that becomes its own competition.
U.S. figure skating resilience meets a complicated backdrop
If the security and geopolitical storylines define the environment, the U.S. figure skating storyline defines the emotional stakes. The American squad heads into Milan with its best shot at medaling in recent memory, but it does so carrying an absence that still feels close.
Misryoum details a tragedy connected to the Skating Club of Boston: just over a year ago. a flight returning to Washington. D.C.. after a competition was involved in a midair collision over the Potomac River.. Among those who died were six members of the club and two of its coaches, Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov.
Shishkova and Naumov weren’t just coaches—they were two-time Olympians and parents of Maxim Naumov. who qualified for his first Olympic Games last month.. Emily Chan and Spencer Howe, selected for the squad, trained with Naumov at the Skating Club of Boston.. In elite sport. training groups can function like extended families. and the ripple effect of loss is often measured in routines: where someone used to stand. how a rink feels when it’s quiet.
That makes Milan’s figure skating events more than technical contests. It becomes a test of mental control—how athletes handle pressure when their “game face” has to coexist with real grief and real memory.
Misryoum’s editorial lens is that this is where performance and humanity merge. The public might focus on jumps and spins, but the athletes will be navigating something harder: carrying the weight of a community while still delivering precision under global cameras.
Alpine hope, but injuries and anxiety complicate the script
On the ski slopes, the U.S. story carries star power and uncertainty at the same time. Two of the sport’s biggest names are chasing Olympic redemption, but both arrive with fresh complications.
Misryoum notes that Lindsey Vonn is attempting a comeback after returning from retirement last year following a partial knee replacement.. She started the season strongly. winning World Cup races since 2018—until a crash in Crans Montana led to a completely ruptured ACL.. Even with that setback, she has said she still plans to compete in the downhill.
The appeal of Vonn’s return is obvious to anyone who has followed skiing: her presence raised the standard in every era she competed.. The hard part is that “presence” can’t replace recovery time.. A serious ACL injury changes how an athlete skis—how they trust the knee when the course demands commitment.
Then there’s Mikaela Shiffrin. who enters with an elite start to the season after trimming her schedule to focus on slalom and giant slalom.. Yet Shiffrin’s Olympic history at times has reflected a different challenge than the one fans see on the World Cup circuit.. She previously discussed struggling with severe performance anxiety and panic attacks during Olympic runs. including being left without Olympic medals at Beijing after skiing off course across multiple events.
This is why Milan’s alpine race narratives are unusually layered. Misryoum sees it as a classic sprint between talent and mental readiness—how quickly an athlete can switch from “what if” thinking to pure execution when the starting gate counts down in front of a global audience.
NHL’s Olympic return thaws the ice—while the arena is still finding its footing
Ice hockey remains one of the most watched events at the Winter Olympics. and this edition includes a major administrative shift.. Misryoum reports that the NHL is allowing players to participate for the first time since the 2014 Sochi Games. and the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) adds even more depth to the women’s competition.
That matters because tournament hockey becomes a different sport when roster quality and speed rise together. Best-on-best lineups tend to increase scoring pressure and reduce margin for error. For the U.S. and Canada, stronger women’s competition sets up a more unpredictable path to medals.
Yet the venue side brings its own uncertainty.. Santagiulia Arena. slated to host men’s and women’s gold medal games. has about 3. 000 fewer seats than planned due to construction issues. and the ice is expected to be a few feet shorter than planned.. Misryoum also notes that construction work meant the first test event arrived late in January, with finishing touches still underway.
The implication is practical: even when arenas are technically “ready,” the last stage of venue prep can influence rhythm—how players time their strides, how teams adapt to ice conditions, and how officials calibrate gameplay.
When the biggest stars return, the spotlight will magnify every detail. If the ice feels a touch different, it won’t just be a technical footnote; it becomes a storyline fans will argue over between periods.
When Milan starts—and what to watch first
The opening ceremony in Milan is scheduled for 8 p.m. local time (2 p.m. ET). Misryoum also notes that NBC will rebroadcast the ceremony in primetime in the U.S., while live events will be streamed on Peacock.
That timing is a reminder that Milan Cortina 2026 won’t arrive as a single “moment.” It’s already unfolding in the headlines—security messaging. eligibility battles. and the emotional burden athletes carry.. In the days ahead. those off-ice storylines will feed directly into what happens on the ice. on the slopes. and under the glare of medal-winning pressure.
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