From September 2 to 4, the IOC/NOC Expert Group met in Milan to address outstanding issues in the preparations for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milan-Cortina 2026. The meeting, held ahead of the IOC Coordination Commission, aimed to present critical items and convey the concerns of the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) regarding their participation in the Games.

These regular meetings are vital as they allow challenges to be anticipated and coordination among all stakeholders to be strengthened. While they may seem like just another step in a busy calendar, each one is essential to ensure that delegations and athletes find the right conditions to compete at the Games.

Over two days of discussions with various functional areas, topics of direct impact on delegations were addressed: transportation and mobility, accreditations and VAPPS, general services, visits to the Olympic Villages, medical services, ceremonies, and arrivals and departures. The Organizing Committee (OCOG) committed to informing the NOCs by the end of September about the decisions taken.

An ANOC survey beforehand

Ahead of the meeting, ANOC conducted a survey among the NOCs to identify their main concerns. The results were shared with the IOC and the representatives attending the Coordination Commission as part of the ANOC-NOC Voice program, ensuring that the most urgent matters received priority attention.

The meeting, chaired by the IOC NOC Relations team, brought together representatives from several committees, including Italy, Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Switzerland, the United States, and ANOC. The broad participation reflected the joint commitment to work from different national perspectives in the planning of Milan-Cortina 2026.