The Dolomites are preparing to host the Winter Olympics from February 6th to 22d, or at least a large part of the disciplines: downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, ski jumping, and biathlon. In recent days they have been dressed in the whitest fresh snow, transforming the landscape into a fairytale.
Downhill skiing at the 2026 Olympics: speed and technique on the slopes of the Dolomites
Downhill skiing will see athletes racing down the steepest slopes of the Dolomites at speeds that can exceed 130 kilometers per hour, defying gravity with perfect trajectories. The downhill races will take place on the legendary “Olympia delle Tofane” slope in Cortina d’Ampezzo, already the stage for memorable races in 1956 and a natural arena among the most iconic peaks of the Dolomites.
This discipline requires not only exceptional courage, but also millimeter precision in controlling the skis and reading the course. The Olympic slopes, prepared according to the most stringent international standards, will test the physical and mental endurance of the champions. And the rocks will stand watching.
Biathlon in Anterselva: tradition and local talent
Anterselva, a beautiful town in Val Pusteria, will host the exciting biathlon competitions, a discipline that combines the endurance of cross-country skiing with the precision of rifle shooting. The Anterselva Biathlon Center is considered one of the most prestigious facilities in the world and boasts a long tradition in this discipline. South Tyrol can count on high-caliber athletes like Dorothea Wierer, multiple world champion and local pride, who will compete in front of her home crowd in what could be her last Olympics.
Our gaze will follow with trepidation the great athlete from Trentino, Tommaso Giacomel, born at the foot of the Pale di San Martino, one of the most beautiful areas of the Dolomites. This year he is unstoppable…
Cross-country skiing with the champions of today and yesterday at the Olympic stadium in Tesero
The cross-country stadium in Tesero, in Val di Fiemme, will once again be the stage for the Olympic cross-country skiing competitions, a discipline that embodies the purest spirit of Nordic sport. These courses have seen Italian cross-country legends triumph, such as Stefania Belmondo and Manuela Di Centa. Also Trentino champions of the caliber of Cristian Zorzi and Giorgio Vanzetta, who have written unforgettable pages in Italy’s Olympic history.
The valley breathes cross-country skiing: just a few days ago the Marcialonga concluded, Italy’s most famous long-distance race that every year attracts thousands of enthusiasts to the same courses that will host the Olympic champions. Today the Italian national team looks with confidence to Federico Pellegrino, flanked by young talents who will try to emulate their predecessors in front of the home crowd.
The Tesero slopes – immersed in the magnificent Dolomite scenery – will offer a spectacle of effort, tactics and endurance that will engage enthusiasts from around the world. With pride I note that my brother, architect Marco Giovanazzi, is the designer of the Olympic stadium in Tesero.
Franco Nones and the first non-Scandinavian gold in 1968
Val di Fiemme is the site of the 2026 Olympics, but boasts a long history of world championships, Marcialonga,, Topolino Trophy, and Skiri Trophy. Val di Fiemme is also the birthplace of the legendary Franco Nones. He is the athlete who in 1968 won the first non-Scandinavian Olympic gold in cross-country skiing in Grenoble. His achievement resonated throughout the world and contributed to spreading the passion for cross-country skiing.
We told the story of Franco Nones in the documentary “The Golden Trail”, which can be found on major streaming platforms—don’t miss it.
Franco recounts the emotions of that day: ‘It was 7 February 1968. It was a beautiful day. The temperature was perfect. It was almost impossible to get the wax wrong… I was a bit worried about the bib number extraction. So he prepares to set off on the adventure of a lifetime
“With the radios they were telling me my time 5 km later. There wasn’t a moment’s respite. I had to keep running, even though they always told me I was in the lead. At the 10th kilometre I passed with half a minute to spare…”.
Cross-country skiing is a very tough sport, difficult to understand for those who don’t practice it. In addition to physical fitness and training, it takes a lot of intelligence: “At the 20th kilometre, I was only four seconds ahead of the Finnish Mäntyrantha. I was convinced that everything was going well, that I was going fast and that Mäntyrantha would have to give up sooner or later. That’s what happened…”
This is how Franco Nones won the Gold Medal at the Grenoble Olympics. He was the first non-Scandinavian athlete to win the coveted prize. His name was on the front page of every newspaper, from Sweden to Norway, France, Italy and Russia. Everyone applauds the ‘little Italian’ who has become a sports legend. His determination led him to become a myth for all the young people of the time, and not only.
