Dec 25, 2025 – South Korea prepares for a packed 2026 calendar that includes the Milan‑Cortina Winter Olympics (Feb 6‑22), the World Baseball Classic (Mar 5‑17), the expanded 48‑team FIFA World Cup (Jun 11‑Jul 19), and the Asian Games in Nagoya (Sept 19‑Oct 4); the Korean Olympic Committee targets a top‑10 finish in Milan‑Cortina, hoping to improve on its 14th‑place finish in Beijing 2022 [12].

Jan 7, 2026 – The Jincheon National Training Center opens in North Chungcheong Province, marking the launch of South Korea’s “year of K‑sports”; KSOC president Ryu Seung‑min declares 2026 “the year of K‑sports” and pledges boosted budget and support, while Culture Minister Chae Hwi‑young promises continued ministry backing for athletes [11].

Jan 7, 2026 – U.S. officials announce that the final Olympic ski‑jumping roster will be released by Jan 20, as the 2026 program adds a women’s large‑hill event and replaces the men’s team event with a super‑team format, shaping the selection window for American jumpers [10].

Jan 20, 2026 – The United States ski‑jumping team is slated to be announced, finalizing the athletes who will compete in the newly expanded ski‑jumping events at Milan‑Cortina 2026 [10].

Jan 22, 2026 – The Games schedule is set: the opening ceremony occurs on Feb 6, the first gold medals are awarded on Feb 7, women’s Alpine downhill gold follows on Feb 8, men’s figure‑skating gold on Feb 13, women’s Alpine slalom gold on Feb 18, women’s figure‑skating and ice‑hockey gold on Feb 19, and men’s ice‑hockey gold and the closing ceremony on Feb 22; debut events include ski mountaineering, a mixed‑team skeleton race, women’s luge doubles, and large‑hill ski‑jumping super‑team contests [3].

Jan 26, 2026 – The opening ceremony is scheduled for Feb 6 in Milan and Cortina, with more than 90 nations competing for a record 195 medals; ski mountaineering makes its Olympic debut and women comprise 53.4 % of events, the highest proportion ever [6][9].

Jan 26, 2026 – Team USA publishes a searchable roster of 232 athletes—the largest U.S. Winter Olympic team ever—featuring 98 returning Olympians and 18 champions; selections follow world‑circuit standings and each sport’s governing‑body criteria, with alternates named for injuries or eligibility issues [5][8].

Jan 31, 2026 – UK Sport sets a target of four to eight medals for Team GB, and Chef de mission Eve Muirhead says the team has an “opportunity to get the most we ever have” at a Winter Games [1].

Jan 31, 2026 – Kirsty Coventry becomes the first female IOC president and describes the sustainability‑focused, multi‑city model of Milan‑Cortina as “the new normal” for future Olympics [1].

Jan 31, 2026 – NHL‑contracted players return to the Olympics for the first time since 2018, bolstering the United States’ hopes for its first men’s gold since the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” [1].

Jan 31, 2026 – Italy sets a minimum goal of 19 medals for the Games, despite injuries to flag‑bearer Federica Brignone, freestyle skier Flora Tabanelli and alpine hopeful Marta Bassino [1].

Feb 2, 2026 – Norway tops the all‑time Winter Olympic medal table with 405 total medals and 148 golds as the Milan‑Cortina Games commence on Feb 6 [2].

Feb 2, 2026 – The United States ranks second historically with 330 medals overall; figure‑skater Ilia Malinin, the only athlete to land a quadruple axel in competition, leads a strong U.S. figure‑skating squad [2].

Feb 2, 2026 – President Donald Trump names Vice President JD Vance and his wife Usha to head the U.S. Olympic delegation, joined by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other officials [2].

Feb 2, 2026 – Hundreds of protesters gather in Milan to denounce the deployment of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at the Games, highlighting security‑related concerns [2].

Feb 3, 2026 – Colorado supplies the most U.S. Olympians (31 athletes), followed by Minnesota (24); the U.S. roster reaches 234 competitors, surpassing the previous record of 228 set in PyeongChang 2018 [4][7].

Feb 3, 2026 – Two Canadians and one Ukrainian join the U.S. team, reflecting broader North‑American collaboration within Team USA [7].

Feb 4‑22, 2026 – Throughout the Games, medals are awarded according to the schedule: first golds on Feb 7, women’s Alpine downhill on Feb 8, men’s figure‑skating on Feb 13, women’s Alpine slalom on Feb 18, women’s figure‑skating and ice‑hockey on Feb 19, and men’s ice‑hockey and the closing ceremony on Feb 22, with debut events and mixed‑team competitions drawing global attention [3].