The Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee -IOC- will meet in Milan on Thursday 18 and Friday 19 September, just months before the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games. The gathering will bring together the organisation’s top representatives to review the current state of the Olympic Movement and preparations for upcoming editions, in a week when the ‘Essential’ Olympic and Paralympic Torch of Milano Cortina 2026 was awarded an Honourable Mention at the Compasso d’Oro International Award 2025 in Osaka.

The body is responsible for the general administration of the IOC and the enforcement of the Olympic Charter, as well as overseeing financial management and drafting proposals for the IOC Session. Its decisions shape the organisation’s roadmap and define strategic directions that affect both internal governance and the development of the Olympic Games.

The meeting in Milan reinforces this institutional weight, placing the Executive Board in direct contact with the Milano Cortina 2026 Organising Committee and governmental representatives. At the same time, the event will serve as a test of the 2026 organising team’s coordination and operational capacity.

Reviewing Milano Cortina 2026 preparations

During their stay in Italy, IOC members will visit several Olympic venues and hold working meetings with the Organising Committee. These inspections allow them to assess first-hand the progress of infrastructures, operational planning and sustainability measures linked to the Games.

The review of reports from the different organising committees is also on the agenda, along with updates from IOC commissions and the central administration. The outcomes of this assessment are expected to set the pace for the coming months in terms of logistics, resources and environmental management.

Among the issues that could be addressed are strategic decisions related to financial, technical and organisational matters. These resolutions are essential to ensure that the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games remain on schedule and meet the standards set out in the Olympic Charter. The meeting also provides an opportunity for the IOC to reinforce confidence in the institutional environment and highlight Italy’s role as host nation.

Innovation and culture on the road to 2026

Alongside this institutional framework, the innovative and cultural dimension of Milano Cortina 2026 continues to gain international recognition. The ‘Essential’ Olympic and Paralympic Torches received one of the 35 Honourable Mentions at the Compasso d’Oro International Award 2025 in Osaka. Their minimalist design, created by Carlo Ratti Associati and developed with recycled materials, symbolises the union of tradition, sustainability and innovation.

The cultural component is also advancing in Milan with the collaboration between the Olympic Museum and the Biblioteca degli Alberi Milano -BAM-, as part of the Cultural Olympiad. The initiative includes workshops and activities with Olympic and Paralympic artists, as well as a land art installation featuring the Olympic Rings and the Paralympic Agitos in the park’s meadows. The project aims to bring the values of Olympism closer to the public through creativity and community participation.