The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina officially kicked off today with a dazzling opening ceremony, but for the Middle East the highlight was the arrival of the United Arab Emirates delegation. For the first time in history, the UAE flag was paraded alongside traditional winter sports giants at San Siro Stadium.This debut marks a huge milestone in the country’s sporting strategy, going beyond the traditional summer games and competing on the global ice and snow stage. This achievement is the result of years of investment in indoor facilities such as Ski Dubai and rigorous training programs in Europe, proving that geography is no barrier to Olympic ambition.
The UAE’s historic debut at the Winter Olympics
In a momentous first, the United Arab Emirates proudly stepped onto the podium of the Winter Olympics. For the first time in its history, the UAE sent a senior Winter Olympic team to Milan-Cortina 2026, marking a milestone in its sporting evolution.Two alpine skiers, 19-year-old Alexander (Alex) Astridge and 29-year-old Piera Hudson, carried the UAE flag at the opening ceremony: Astridge in Milan and Hudson in Cortina d’Ampezzo respectively.Their participation placed the UAE among a growing list of countries expanding winter sports beyond the traditional, snowbound countries, and underlined how determination and global support can transcend climate boundaries.Senior UAE sports officials attended the festivities, including Fares Mohammed Al Mutawa, Secretary General of the National Olympic Committee, Mohammed bin Darwish, Executive Director of the Olympic Committee, and Hamel Al Qubaisi, Vice President of the UAE Winter Sports Federation.
Milan-Cortina 2026
The 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics mark a bold new chapter for the Olympic movement, combining world-class sport with a modern multi-city hosting model. The Games, scheduled from February 6 to 22, 2026, will be hosted in Italy, with competitions spread across Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Livigno, Bormio, Predazzo and Anterselva – making it one of the most geographically diverse Winter Olympics ever.The Games will bring together nearly 3,000 athletes from more than 90 countries, competing in eight sports and 16 disciplines, including alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, biathlon, ice hockey, figure skating, snowboarding and speed skating. More than 110 medal events are planned, showcasing both traditional winter disciplines and newer, youth-driven formats.Milan-Cortina 2026 is also the first Winter Olympics with an opening ceremony in two cities, with celebrations taking place simultaneously in Milan and Cortina, symbolizing the fusion of urban culture and alpine heritage. Organizers have positioned the Games as a sustainability-focused Olympic Games, prioritizing existing venues, reduced environmental impact and long-term use of heritage rather than large-scale new construction.For countries like the United Arab Emirates, the Games represent more than just competition. Milan-Cortina 2026 sets a global stage for inclusivity, evolution and breaking down sporting stereotypes, making the UAE’s debut part of a much bigger Olympic story.
Meet the athletes leading the UAE
The UAE’s historic Winter Olympics debut will be led by two alpine skiers, marking the country’s first-ever participation in the Senior Winter Olympics.Alexander (Alex) Astridge, 19, and Piera Hudson, 29, will represent the UAE in alpine skiing events, competing against some of the most experienced winter sports athletes from traditional snow sports powers such as Austria, Switzerland, Norway and the United States. Both athletes have trained extensively abroad and also use Ski Dubai as a fundamental training base, reflecting the UAE’s growing winter sports infrastructure.Officials from the UAE Winter Sports Federation and the UAE National Olympic Committee have made it clear that the primary goal of Milan-Cortina 2026 is long-term experience, exposure and development, rather than immediate medal contention. Alpine skiing is one of the most competitive disciplines at the Winter Olympics, with athletes often requiring multiple Olympic cycles to reach podium level.That said, qualifying in itself is a significant achievement. Competing on the Olympic slopes will put UAE athletes on the global performance map, allowing them to measure up to elite competitors and paving the way for stronger results in future Games. As Hamel Al Qubaisi, Vice President of the UAE Winter Sports Federation, previously noted, participation at this level is a “critical step in building a sustainable winter sports ecosystem for the UAE.”
What took so long in the UAE?
The UAE’s arrival at the Winter Olympics did not happen overnight, and the timeline reflects the reality of building winter sports in a country without snow. Unlike countries with natural alpine terrain and winter traditions spanning generations, the UAE started its winter sports journey from the ground up.One of the main reasons for the delayed debut is infrastructure and access. Competitive winter sports require consistent snow exposure, high-altitude training and international competition circuits. For decades, the UAE simply did not have the facilities or athlete pipeline needed to meet Olympic qualifying standards.That started to change over the past decade. The opening of Ski Dubai provided a controlled training environment, while the establishment and international recognition of the UAE Winter Sports Federation, including its membership of the International Ski Federation (FIS) in 2022, created the administrative and competitive framework necessary for Olympic participation.Another important factor was the fitness and development of athletes. Winter athletes often peak after years of international competition, and the UAE first had to identify dual nationality or resident athletes willing to compete under its flag while meeting strict Olympic qualification criteria. This process requires time, investments and sustainable international fame.
Looking ahead
Officials from the UAE National Olympic Committee have previously stressed that the country’s approach was deliberate and not hasty. The focus was on ensuring that athletes met global standards, that governance structures were in place and that participation would be credible, not tokenistic.Milan-Cortina 2026 represents the point where athlete preparation, infrastructure and readiness finally align. The debut is not a late arrival, but a strategic one, signaling the UAE’s entry into winter sports with intention, structure and a long-term vision rather than as a one-off appearance.
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