20 September 2024 – Volunteer recruitment for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 is now open, with the Organising Committee aiming to recruit around 18,000 “Team26” volunteers through an online application process on its website, milanocortina2026.org.

Volunteers will play an important role in facilitating Milano Cortina 2026 at competition venues and other official sites, such as the Olympic and Paralympic Villages, the Main Media Centre, railway stations and airports. Specific roles could include guiding fans and accredited participants, aiding sports delegations, accompanying athletes to competition venues and press events, supporting timekeeping activities, helping with the distribution of equipment, and participating in medical support.

Volunteering for “Team26” will offer a unique opportunity to experience the behind-the-scenes magic of these iconic winter sports events. They will be the first Olympic Winter Games fully aligned with Olympic Agenda 2020 reforms, adapting the Games to the host regions, with many of the venues existing or temporary. Notably, they will also be the most gender-balanced Olympic Winter Games in history, with a record 47 per cent female participation expected.

In 2026, volunteers will be captivated by the stunning natural beauty of the Dolomites and Italian Alps, contrasting with the cosmopolitan energy of Milan, providing a picturesque and diverse backdrop across four clusters: Milan, Cortina, Valtellina and Val di Fiemme. They can expect to be inspired by a passionate fan base in the host regions, while also learning from Italy’s rich sporting legacy and expertise in organising international winter sports competitions.

Those successfully recruited for “Team26” will join a vibrant community, forming life-long friendships with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds. They will also acquire new skills that can be applied to all aspects of their professional and personal lives. From the application phase to the completion of their mission, volunteers will follow a tailored path that aligns their aspirations, availability and personal qualities with the organisational needs of the event. Additionally, they will receive the official volunteer uniform and welcome kit, symbols of their integral role in the Games.

The “Team26” volunteer programme is open to all Italian residents and foreign nationals who are willing to cover their own travel, visa and accommodation costs. Applicants must be at least 18 by 1 November 2025, have proficiency in Italian or English, and be able to participate in selection and training events. They must also be available for at least nine consecutive days during the Olympic Winter Games, which will be held from 6 to 22 February 2026, or the Paralympic Winter Games, scheduled from 6 to 15 March 2026. Applicants can also offer to volunteer at a series of readiness activities that will take place in the build-up to Milano Cortina 2026, starting with test events in 2025.

“Volunteers have always been the distinguishing element of every edition of the Games,” said Milano Cortina 2026 President Giovanni Malagò, who is also an IOC Member and President of the Italian Olympic Committee.

With their passion and enthusiasm, they will convey the Italian spirit by welcoming people from all over the world and ensuring the best possible experience for the leading figures of the winter disciplines.

Giovanni Malag – IOC Member, President of Milano Cortina 2026 and the Italian Olympic Committee

“Olympic champion Diana Bianchedi, now Chief Strategy Planning and Legacy Officer at Milano Cortina 2026, added: “Without volunteers, no edition of the Games would be possible. First as an athlete and then as an executive, I have seen firsthand how crucial the contribution of volunteers is in creating that unique atmosphere that only the Olympic and Paralympic Games can convey.”

Jannik Sinner, the men’s world number one tennis player, who grew up in northern Italy and competed in elite Alpine skiing events in his youth, has been named as the official ambassador of Milano Cortina 2026’s “We are the Games” campaign to recruit volunteers for the “Team26” programme.