IOC President Kirsty Coventry delivers a speech during the opening ceremony of the 145th IOC Session at La Scala Theatre in Milan, Italy on Feb. 2, 2026. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)
MILAN, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- With four days to go until the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics opens, International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry acknowledged challenges but expressed excitement for the event.
"It has been a long journey, sometimes a bit bumpy, like every Olympic journey... but it is truly wonderful to be here, among our Italian partners and friends," Coventry said Monday evening at the opening of the 145th IOC Session at Milan's historic opera house, Teatro alla Scala.
She linked the famed venue to the spirit of the upcoming Games.
"La Scala represents the Italian spirit: a deep love of the arts and life, of human creativity, of blending tradition and innovation," Coventry said.
"It is the same spirit that will now embrace the world's best winter sports athletes as they prepare to make their Olympic dream come true."
The 42-year-old president emphasized enthusiasm for the athletes, stating, "It takes an Olympic Village to make every athlete's dream come true."
The session will focus on strategic priorities under the IOC's "Fit for the Future" initiative, alongside governance, financial reporting and anti-doping measures.
Updates are expected from coordination commissions and organizing committees for the upcoming Games, including Milan-Cortina 2026, Los Angeles 2028 and future editions through 2034, as well as the Youth Olympic Games.
The agenda also includes proposed amendments to the Olympic Charter and reports from the IOC Members Election Commission.
The session's main proceedings will be held from February 3-4 and on February 22 in Milan. ■
IOC President Kirsty Coventry arrives for the opening ceremony of the 145th IOC Session at La Scala Theatre in Milan, Italy on Feb. 2, 2026. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)
Italian President Sergio Mattarella delivers a speech during the opening ceremony of the 145th IOC Session at La Scala Theatre in Milan, Italy on Feb. 2, 2026. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)
Italian President Sergio Mattarella (front L) arrives for the opening ceremony of the 145th IOC Session at La Scala Theatre in Milan, Italy on Feb. 2, 2026. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)
IOC President Kirsty Coventry delivers a speech during the opening ceremony of the 145th IOC Session at La Scala Theatre in Milan, Italy on Feb. 2, 2026. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)
Luciano Buonfiglio, President of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI), delivers a speech during the opening ceremony of the 145th IOC Session at La Scala Theatre in Milan, Italy on Feb. 2, 2026. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)
Luciano Buonfiglio, President of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI), reacts during the opening ceremony of the 145th IOC Session at La Scala Theatre in Milan, Italy on Feb. 2, 2026. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)
Italian President Sergio Mattarella delivers a speech during the opening ceremony of the 145th IOC Session at La Scala Theatre in Milan, Italy on Feb. 2, 2026. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)
Giovanni Malago, President of the organizing committee for the 2026 Winter Olympics, delivers a speech during the opening ceremony of the 145th IOC Session at La Scala Theatre in Milan, Italy on Feb. 2, 2026. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)
IOC President Kirsty Coventry (C) reacts before the opening ceremony of the 145th IOC Session at La Scala Theatre in Milan, Italy on Feb. 2, 2026. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)
Photo taken on Feb. 2, 2026 shows a general view of the opening ceremony of the 145th IOC Session at La Scala Theatre in Milan, Italy. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)
FIFA President Gianni Infantino (R) and IOC Athletes Commission member Pau Gasol Saez arrive for the opening ceremony of the 145th IOC Session at La Scala Theatre in Milan, Italy on Feb. 2, 2026. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)
Photo taken on Feb. 2, 2026 shows a general view of the opening ceremony of the 145th IOC Session at La Scala Theatre in Milan, Italy. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)
IOC President Kirsty Coventry delivers a speech during the opening ceremony of the 145th IOC Session at La Scala Theatre in Milan, Italy on Feb. 2, 2026. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)
IOC President Kirsty Coventry delivers a speech during the opening ceremony of the 145th IOC Session at La Scala Theatre in Milan, Italy on Feb. 2, 2026. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)
Italian President Sergio Mattarella delivers a speech during the opening ceremony of the 145th IOC Session at La Scala Theatre in Milan, Italy on Feb. 2, 2026. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)
IOC President Kirsty Coventry arrives for the opening ceremony of the 145th IOC Session at La Scala Theatre in Milan, Italy on Feb. 2, 2026. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)
IOC member Sergey Bubka arrives for the opening ceremony of the 145th IOC Session at La Scala Theatre in Milan, Italy on Feb. 2, 2026. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)
FIFA President Gianni Infantino (L) and IOC Athletes Commission member Pau Gasol Saez arrive for the opening ceremony of the 145th IOC Session at La Scala Theatre in Milan, Italy on Feb. 2, 2026. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)
Former IOC president Thomas Bach (R) and his wife Claudia Bach arrive for the opening ceremony of the 145th IOC Session at La Scala Theatre in Milan, Italy on Feb. 2, 2026. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)
