UAE To Participate In Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, NOC Announces

The UAE National Olympic Committee has confirmed that the UAE will make its first appearance at the Winter Olympic Games in 2026, when Milan and Cortina host the 26th edition. Around 2,900 athletes are due to compete in 114 medal events across eight sports and 16 disciplines during the Games, scheduled from 6th to 22nd February 2026.

The UAE delegation will feature alpine skiers Aleksander Estridge and Piera Hudson, who both qualified on performance grounds. Their events form part of the official alpine skiing programme held across three competition days. This participation extends the UAE’s Olympic journey from the Summer Games and Youth Olympic Games into winter sport for the first time in the country’s history.

Details of the delegation and programme were outlined at a press conference at the UAE National Olympic Committee headquarters in Dubai. The event took place on a Thursday and brought together officials and media. Aleksander Estridge joined via video link, while those present included Hamel Al Qubaisi, Ahmed Al Tayeb and Mohammed Khadem, reflecting coordination between Olympic and winter sports bodies.

The opening ceremony for Milano–Cortina 2026 is planned across four separate venues. Aleksander Estridge is set to carry the UAE flag in Milan, and Piera Hudson will hold the national flag in Cortina. This dual presence highlights the shared responsibility between both athletes and signals the UAE’s visibility across the two host cities at the start of the Games.

Ahmed Al Tayeb passed on greetings from Faris Mohammed Al Mutawa, Secretary-General of the National Olympic Committee, and underlined the wider meaning of the 2026 appearance. He said it reflects the development of the national Olympic movement and supports the Committee’s principle of "participation for competition" across all levels, from regional championships to global multi-sport events.

Al Tayeb pointed to the backing of the UAE’s leadership and the commitment of citizens as key factors behind the country’s international sporting role. He highlighted the strong results produced by UAE athletes and the image projected by official delegations, especially regarding Olympic values such as respect, friendship and excellence, which guide the country’s conduct at major competitions.

Preparations for the UAE’s first Winter Olympic Games participation began once qualification was secured and will continue until the start of competition next month. Plans have involved domestic and overseas training camps and structured preparation programmes. The UAE Winter Sports Federation has pursued long-term strategies to support consistent involvement in winter sports despite the country’s warm climate and limited natural snow conditions.

Hamel Al Qubaisi said, "Today, we take pride in the journey achieved by the UAE Winter Sports Federation, and we look forward to seeing our athletes represent their country with pride on the Olympic stage. The UAE national team’s historic participation in the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Italy represents an unprecedented achievement and affirms that Emirati sport knows no boundaries—neither geographical nor climatic—but is driven by an ambitious vision to build a generation capable of excellence and global competitiveness."

Al Qubaisi explained that the UAE Winter Sports Federation had overseen technical aspects of training and qualification, coordinated entries into major competitions and worked with international federations. He noted that this included the design of readiness plans, specialist coaching support and exchange of expertise. These steps are aimed at improving athlete performance and reinforcing the UAE’s participation in international winter sports calendars.

The UAE has already tested its winter sport systems through events such as the Winter Youth Olympic Games 2024, the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025 and the Asian Winter Games 2025. Athletes have also trained under international initiatives, including the FIS Development Programme in Switzerland. UAE membership of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation since September 2024 has further formalised its position within global winter sport structures.

Italy will host the Winter Olympic Games for a third time, after Cortina in 1956 and Turin in 2006. The Milano–Cortina 2026 programme is expected to be the most gender-balanced Winter Olympics held so far, with 1,362 quota places allocated to women and 1,538 to men out of 2,900 total places, and 50 women’s events, providing a platform where the UAE’s debut aligns with broader changes in the Games.

With inputs from WAM