Winter Games Across Northern Italy
The 2026 Winter Olympics brought snow and ice sports to several places in northern Italy.
Estimated CEFR reading level: A2. Short factual paragraphs with everyday language, simple past-tense verbs and explanations of new sport words. This is an editorial estimate, not an official certification.
Five useful words
British English pronunciation (IPA). Audio uses an available English voice on your device.
host /həʊst/
verbTo provide a place for an event.
Our town will host a music festival.
athlete /ˈæθliːt/
nounA person who trains and takes part in sports.
The athlete practises every morning.
venue /ˈvenjuː/
nounA place where an event happens.
The school hall is the venue for the concert.
compete /kəmˈpiːt/
verbTo take part in a contest and try to win.
Two teams compete in the final.
relay /ˈriːleɪ/
nounA race in which team members take turns.
Each runner completes one part of the relay.
The story
Italy held the Winter Olympics from 6 to 22 February 2026. The Games were called Milano Cortina 2026. Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo were the official host cities, but events happened across northern Italy.
Visitors needed to check where each event was held. Milan hosted ice hockey and figure skating, while Cortina hosted curling and other sports. Mountain events took place near towns including Bormio and Livigno, so watching different sports could mean travelling between venues.
Ski mountaineering was new to the Winter Olympics. Athletes raced uphill and downhill, sometimes on skis and sometimes on foot. Men and women had races, and there was a mixed relay. In a relay, team members take turns.
The Games are over. This reading looks back at their places and sports, rather than giving a live schedule.
Several places, one Games
- MilanIce hockey, figure skating and other ice sports.
- Cortina d'AmpezzoCurling, women's alpine skiing and sliding sports.
- Other mountain venuesEvents also took place around Bormio, Livigno and the valleys.
A simple location guide by Poly-Puff, not a complete venue list or a map showing distances.
Three questions
Try answering before you open the answer. You can use your own words.
- In which country were the 2026 Winter Olympics held?
Show answer
Italy.
- Were all the events held in just one place?
Show answer
No. Events were spread across several venues in northern Italy.
- What do team members do in a relay?
Show answer
They take turns completing parts of the race.
Let's talk about it
Here are some ideas for a chat. Choose any you like.
- Which winter sport would you most like to watch?
- Would you enjoy visiting several towns to watch different events?
- Do you prefer watching a sport in person or on television?
- Would you like to try a winter sport for the first time?
- What would help you travel between sports events in different towns?
Looking back with the past simple
Use past simple for a finished event: "Italy hosted the Games." "Athletes competed in several towns." Write two sentences about a sports event you watched.
Sources and context
An original learning article by Poly-Puff, written from the factual sources below. Sources checked on 4 October 2026. The artwork and learning activities were created for this article.
