IOC President shines a light on TOP Partner support during visit to Olympic Village
As athletes begin to settle into the Olympic Village ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry has praised the Worldwide Olympic Partners for the athlete-centred support shaping their Games-time experience.
Key facts
- Worldwide Olympic Partners are delivering a wide range of athlete-centred initiatives across all six Olympic Villages at Milano Cortina 2026.
- Partner support includes Athlete Welcome Kits, Olympic Edition smartphones, well-being and recovery facilities, and social spaces within the Olympic Village.
- TOP Partners also support athletes outside the Village, helping stage the Games through products, services, technology and expertise.
Visiting the Olympic Village in Milan with members of the IOC Athletes’ Commission yesterday, President Coventry underlined the importance of programmes designed to support athletes both on and off the field of play.
Having lived the Olympic experience myself, I know how important it is for athletes to feel supported during the Games,. At Milano Cortina 2026, our TOP Partners are delivering innovative services and products that respond to the needs of athletes and help create an environment where they can thrive.
Working in close collaboration with the IOC Athletes’ Department, the Worldwide Olympic Partners are providing a comprehensive range of services, programmes and products in each of the six Olympic Villages at the Games, located in Milan, Cortina, Predazzo, Bormio, Livigno and Anterselva.
The IOC President met with Stephanie Choi, Chief Marketing Officer at Samsung Mobile, and was presented with a bespoke Samsung Olympic Edition Galaxy device. These devices are being gifted to athletes and are preloaded with essential apps designed to support their time at the Games and help them stay connected. Together with Emma Terho, IOC Athletes’ Commission Chair, the President told a number of athletes who were collecting their phones: “Good luck, you guys, they are wonderful phones – enjoy them! And enjoy your time at the Games!” The Olympic Edition will also be used by athletes on the podium for the Victory Selfie, which is making its Winter Games debut at Milano Cortina 2026.
The IOC President also visited Samsung’s dedicated Gaming Zones which provide a place for athletes to enjoy some friendly competition and connection during the Games.
Athletes will also be able to experience an innovative new take on one of the Olympic Games’ most cherished traditions, as Alibaba Cloud introduces an AI-powered pin trading experience in the Milan Olympic Village.
The IOC President was excited to try out the experience – “I’ve heard lots about it!” she said. Powered by Alibaba’s Qwen large language model (LLM), the Intelligent Pin Trading Station uses voice- and gesture-enabled interaction to help athletes exchange pins easily.
Post-Games, Alibaba will also continue to help athletes develop their business ideas and support their post-career entrepreneurship through the Athlete365 Business Accelerator programme.
The IOC President was shown some of the latest TCL products which are available to athletes in the Olympic Village, including smart washing machines, AI-enabled air conditioners and TCL TVs, all of which are supporting comfort, recovery and relaxation during their stay. At competition venues, TCL’s Athlete Moment will enable athletes to connect live with friends and family immediately after competing.
The President and the Athletes’ Commission also saw how mental well-being is further supported through the Athlete365 x Powerade Mind Zone, offering a dedicated setting for athletes to recharge and refocus through mindfulness and relaxation activities.
The President had the chance to relax in The Coca-Cola Lounge, which provides a welcoming space where athletes can rest and take part in fun activities. She also received a personalised Coca-Cola can with her photo engraved on it – an experience that all athletes can take advantage of. Coca-Cola will refresh athletes throughout the Games with Powerade, Smartwater and a full portfolio of beverages.
The IOC President also met athletes collecting their gift bags at the P&G Champions Clubhouse and wished them all the best for the Games. The Clubhouse offers an exclusive, celebratory space where athletes can relax, enjoy beauty and grooming services featuring brands such as Head & Shoulders, Gillette and more. In addition, P&G is providing athlete parents with Pampers Little Champions Kits, designed to support athlete families during their stay at the Games, while its Athletes for Good programme also continues to support athletes who are making a positive impact in their communities.
She told the Corona Cero team, who also worked at the Olympic Village in Paris, “Thank you guys, enjoy the Games and have so much fun! I really look forward to coming back to hear about the memorable golden moment messages that the athletes are sharing with you.”
The IOC President then visited the Corona Cero “Greenroom”, offering a space with yoga and meditation sessions for athletes and a daily sunset celebration with live music and DJs. Athletes can also collect a Corona Golden Bottle, a unique keepsake that can be engraved to commemorate the defining moment of their Games experience. Meanwhile, athletes in Bormio, Livigno and Anterselva will also be able to unwind in the Corona Cero Relaxation Bar.
The IOC President and the IOC Athletes’ Commission visited the Olympic Village dining hall to join athletes for lunch – where Worldwide Olympic Partner Mengniu’s products are available, including a wide range of dairy and lactose-free yoghurts, for athletes during the Games.
Support from the Worldwide Olympic Partners at Milano Cortina 2026 also extends well beyond the Olympic Villages.
For example, building on its success at Tokyo 2020, Beijing 2022 and Paris 2024, the Airbnb500 programme is once again available to all Olympians at Milano Cortina 2026, offering every competing athlete a USD 500 Airbnb travel grant to celebrate their achievements.
Our TOP Partners play an essential role in delivering Olympic Games that are truly made for athletes. By supporting athletes in the Village, at the venues and beyond, these partnerships help create an environment where athletes can focus on performing at their best, while feeling valued and supported.