Feature: Italy gears up for Milan-Cortina 2026 with venue checks, torch relay and cultural celebrations

MILAN, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- As the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games approaches its opening in just one week, arenas are undergoing final tests, the Olympic flame is traveling across the country and cities are embracing the spirit of the Games.

TEST EVENTS PUT VENUES UNDER SCRUTINY

Test events for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games are gathering pace as organizers evaluate venues and operations, with most competitions running smoothly, but concerns linger around the new Santa Giulia Ice hockey Arena in Milan.

The ice hockey test event, held to assess ice quality, athlete services and broadcast readiness, has drawn scrutiny after delays linked to ongoing construction work. Doubts have been raised about the quality of the ice, but officials have assured that work will continue around the clock and all outstanding issues that require attention will be addressed.

The National Hockey League (NHL), whose players are expected to return to the Olympics for the first time since Sochi 2014, issued a statement saying it was pleased with a recent test event at the arena and would continue to "closely monitor preparations" and remain in regular contact with the International Ice Hockey Federation and the Milan-Cortina organizing committee.

Organizers have expressed confidence about the works and said the venue will be ready in time, despite the challenges.

Other test events, including alpine skiing and sliding sports, have been described by officials as successful, with overall preparations progressing as planned.

TORCH RELAY GAINS MOMENTUM

As technical preparations continue, the Olympic torch relay has gathered much attention as it continues to travel across every region in Italy with large crowds gathering along its 12,000-kilometer journey.

The Olympic flame set off from the Stadio dei Marmi in Rome on December 6 with the president of the Milan-Cortina 2026 organizing committee Giovanni Malago saying, "Every step of the Relay through our cities will remind the world of the power of sport to build bridges and break down barriers."

As it passed through major cities and cultural landmarks, ceremonies and performances were held focusing on Italy's history and rich artistic heritage. Internationally recognized figures have also taken part, including action film star Jackie Chan and Chinese skier Gu Ailing, both widely followed in China.

Chan, carrying the torch through the archaeological site of Pompeii on December 22, said the torch "represents love and peace." Gu, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, said, "the torch symbolizes strength, aspiration, and the unique capacity that sports have to bring people together."

The torch relay will end with the lighting of the flame on February 6 and will mark one of the most intense moments of the opening ceremony. For the Games, the Olympic flame will burn for the first time simultaneously in two locations: Milan and Cortina. The design of the cauldrons recalls the genius of Leonardo da Vinci and his famous Knots, geometric interlacing symbolizing the harmony between nature and human ingenuity.

OLYMPIC BRANDING BUILDS PUBLIC BUZZ

In Milan, signs of the upcoming Games are increasingly visible across the city, with Olympic branding and slogans in train stations, metro lines and other public spaces.

Cultural events linked to Milan-Cortina 2026, including pop-up exhibitions and public installations, have expanded in recent weeks, contributing to a growing sense of anticipation for the start of the competitions.

On January 26, the square of Palazzo Lombardia in Milan was filled with the aroma of chocolate and the cheers of the crowd. The "Winter Games Express", a train made entirely of chocolate and unveiled that day, set a Guinness World Record as the longest chocolate sculpture in the world, measuring 55.27 meters.

The train was supported by the Milan-Cortina 2026 Cultural Olympiad program and was created under the guidance of Andrew Farrugia, the Master Chocolatier of Malta. Beyond its record-breaking length, the sculpture features meticulously crafted details, including tables and seats inside the carriages.

One of the project's organizers, the CEO of the Institute of Tourism Studies, Pierre Fenech, said the train was presented at this particular time to capitalize on the heightened attention brought by the Winter Games.

"The train symbolizes a journey, and every athlete is on a journey of their own -- starting with dreams in youth and ultimately arriving at the destination of glory," Fenech concluded. ■