[Olympics symbol. Photo Credit: Pixabay]

The 2026 Winter Olympics Games have  commenced in Milano, northern Italy, bringing athletes from all around the world together to compete in snow, and ice base sports.

The Milano Cortina Games  will take place from February 6 to February 22 and are expected to include about 2,900 athletes representing roughly 90 countries.

With exciting competitions underway, the Olympics showcase both traditional winter events and new additions, while attention also turns to which nations are likely to win the most medals. 

The Winter Olympics feature a  diverse range of sports played on snow and ice. 

The Games will include 116 medal events across 16 sports, such as ice hockey, figure skating, skiing event, and speed skating.

Alpine  skiing alone  features 10 events split between men and women, with races held on challenging mountain courses in Milano, Italy.

Another popular sport is speed skating, where there's a race on an oval ice track in distances ranging from short sprints to longer endurance events. 

Fourteen speed skating events are scheduled during the Games.

Cross-country skiing, which tests endurance and technique, features 12 events and will see women compete over the same distances as men for the first time, trying out a step  towards equality in competition.

New and updated events are also parts of this year’s  Olympic schedule. 

Ski mountaineering  will make its Olympic debut, combining uphill climbing and downhill skiing in a timed race.

Other sports include a mixed team relay skeleton, women’s large hill ski jumping event, and women’s doubles  luge. 

These  additions reflect ongoing efforts to expand participation and gender balance. 

These changes show how the Olympics continue to evolve while  preserving traditional winter sports.

Early competition has already produced memorable results. 

On February 7th, Italy celebrated a  landmark achievement when speed skater Francesca Lollobrigida won gold in the women’s 3,000 metre race, setting an Olympic record and earning the host country its first gold medal of the games.

Meanwhile, Switzerland  captivated attention in alpin skiing as Franjo von Allmen won the men’s downhill title on one of the sports’ most complex courses, which was also on February 7th. 

These victories  demonstrate how individual performances can quickly shift medal standings.

 Prior to the  Games, analysts predicted several countries would dominate overall medal counts. 

Norway  was predicted as the strongest to win the most gold medals, with the United States and Germany also considered serious contenders. 

Canada and host country Italy were viewed as likely  dark horses.

Sports analysts also  predicted that Norway would likely lead in total medals, followed by Germany and the United States, based on the past results and athlete strength. 

However, because these predictions are based on historical performances, funding, and depth of talent, the unpredictable nature of sports can be surprising often.

As the Milano Cortina Olympics continue, fans can expect dramatic finishes, record breaking performances, and national pride on display. 

From skiing down steep mountain slopes to skating across rinks, the Games  have something for everyone.

While medal favourites  often dominate headlines, the true spirit of the Olympics lies in global participation, teamwork, and the celebration of athletic achievement.

With many events still to come, people around the world will be watching to see which athletes  excel and which countries win the most medals.