The Winter Olympics officially commenced on February 6, 2026, with an opening ceremony held at the iconic San Siro Stadium in Milan. The event is expected to attract over 70,000 spectators and features athletes from nearly 100 countries competing in various sports.
Approximately 3,000 athletes will participate in the Games, competing for 116 sets of medals across eight sports and 16 disciplines. Among the competitors, Ukraine is represented by 46 athletes participating in 11 different sports.
Notably, Russian athletes have been allowed to compete under a neutral status. However, they did not partake in the opening ceremony. A total of 13 individual Russian athletes are registered for the Games, all of whom will compete without their national flag or anthem due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Russian teams are barred from participating in team events.
On the day of the opening ceremony, Ukrainian officials, including Minister of Youth and Sports Matviy Bidny and Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, urged international sports organizations to maintain restrictions on the participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus in global competitions. They emphasized that Russia has been a significant violator of international sports norms and the Olympic Charter, citing military invasions during Olympic truces and a state-sponsored doping program.
The ministers highlighted that during the previous Winter Olympics in Beijing in 2022, 28 out of 32 medals won by Russian athletes were claimed by individuals who were also active members of the Russian military. They also noted the tragic impact of the conflict, stating that over 650 Ukrainian athletes and coaches have lost their lives, and more than 800 sports facilities, including 20 Olympic, Paralympic, and Deaflympic training centers, have been destroyed.
In a historic first, two Olympic torches were lit simultaneously during this year’s opening ceremony—one in Milan at the Arco della Pace and another in Cortina d’Ampezzo at Piazza Dibona.
The 2026 Winter Olympics opened in Milan, featuring around 3,000 athletes from nearly 100 countries. Ukrainian officials called for continued restrictions on Russian and Belarusian athletes amid ongoing conflict.
Source: Radio Svoboda