CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – We are a year away from the Winter Olympic opening ceremonies. The games are set to take place in Milan, Italy.

Ski mountaineering, also known as ‘Skimo,’ is set to make its Olympic debut at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics.

While some athletes are preparing others are hopeful their sport will be included in the Olympics one day. Jessie Jasie, a former Jr. World team member for synchronized skating, now represents Hayden Select out of Norwood, Mass.

The last time she was in Milan, she won the spring cup with the organization. “I know that one of their biggest concern is the number of skaters, hence why we’re on Hayden Select,” Jasie says. “And trying to push that only skating 12 and trying to be innovative.”

Six new events are also set to make their debut, all of them within existing sports:

Though some fans are looking forward to long-time running events. Justin Koether says, “Ski jumping where you go off a big ramp and you go high in the air.”

Jasie adds, “Skeleton and the luge, just because that is something I would never be able to get myself to do it feels very scary.”

The International Olympic Committee says the new events added promote gender equality.
2026 Milan Cortina is set to have the highest female participation in Winter Games history.

Olympic events will kick off on February 4th and run through the 22nd of 2026. Some athletes already working towards qualifying for those events this year.

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