1924 – Ski jumping becomes a fixture at every Winter Olympics, establishing a long‑standing marquee event that will feature expanded formats in Milan‑Cortina 2026, including a new women’s large‑hill and a men’s super‑team competition [3].

2014 – Women’s ski jumping makes its Olympic debut, paving the way for further gender‑balanced additions such as the 2026 women’s large‑hill event and a record 53.4% female participation across all sports [3][1].

2018 – The International Olympic Committee bars NHL‑contracted players from the PyeongChang Games, ending a brief era of professional ice‑hockey participation and setting the stage for their 2026 return [1].

2021 – The IOC officially adds ski mountaineering (skimo) to the 2026 program, marking the sport’s transition from military back‑country training in World II to a modern Olympic discipline [2].

2022 – The mixed team ski jumping event debuts in Beijing, demonstrating the IOC’s push for mixed‑gender formats that continue with the 2026 program’s men’s super‑team and expanded mixed relay in skimo [3].

2022 – COVID‑19 restrictions keep NHL players out of the Beijing Winter Games, extending their absence and heightening anticipation for their full participation in 2026 [1].

2026 – Milan‑Cortina hosts the 25th Winter Olympics, Italy’s third time hosting (after 1956 Cortina and 2006 Turin), and introduces a record 116 medal events, including the debut of ski mountaineering [1].

2026 – Kirsty Coventry becomes the IOC’s first female president, pledging a “new normal” of sustainable, spread‑out Games and overseeing the Milan‑Cortina edition [1].

2026 – Women compete in a Winter Games‑record 53.4% of events, with 1,300 female athletes across 50 women‑only and 12 mixed medal events, underscoring the IOC’s gender‑balance agenda [1].

2026 – UK Sport sets a target of four to eight medals for Team GB, and chef de mission Eve Muirhead declares an “opportunity to get the most we ever have,” framing British expectations for the Games [1].

2026 – The Italian Olympic Committee aims for at least 19 medals on home soil, while flagbearer Federica Brignone and other top athletes contend with injuries that could affect Italy’s medal haul [1].

2026 – NHL‑contracted players return for the first time since 2014, with almost all 12 teams fielding talent and boosting U.S. ice‑hockey title hopes despite lingering venue‑readiness concerns [1].

Jan 20, 2026 – The United States announces its final ski jumping roster for Milan‑Cortina, finalizing the athletes who will compete in the expanded program that includes the women’s large‑hill and men’s super‑team events [3].

Feb 19, 2026 – Ski mountaineering sprints debut at the Games, featuring three‑minute races that combine a single ascent, a rapid equipment change, and a downhill, with Team USA’s Cam Smith and Anna Gibson leading the field [2].

Feb 21, 2026 – The mixed‑gender ski mountaineering relay takes place, pairing a man and a woman in four alternating laps and testing transition speed as athletes swap skins and boots mid‑race [2].