Mengniu’s China Night brings celebration of cultural exchange to Milano Cortina 2026
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry joined Mengniu Group President Gao Fei and Chinese Olympians Yin Ruoning and Wu Dajing as the Worldwide Olympic Partner hosted the second edition of its China Night gala at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.
First staged during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the event brought a celebration of Chinese sport and culture to Milan’s historic Villa Clerici and provided an opportunity to promote the Olympic spirit and foster international cultural exchange.
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry addressed the assembled guests saying that China Night is a bridge between sports and culture, and between China and Italy.
This is also what the Olympic Games is all about - bringing people together and building understanding.
Coventry emphasised that she was looking forward to continuing the journey with Mengniu in celebrating the Olympic spirit through health, sustainability and through the love of culture and sport. Finally, she told the gathering that she was excited for China Night in LA 2028.
Held in collaboration with the Chinese Olympic Committee, the evening’s guests included Mr Li Pengcheng, Senior Executive President and the head of group affairs of Mengniu, TCL CEO Kevin Wang, representatives from Alibaba and CMG, alongside cultural figures and athletes such as LPGA star Yin and Olympic short track skating gold medallist Wu, to mark the growing connections between China and the world through sport and culture.
Addressing attendees, Mengniu Group CEO Gao reaffirmed the company’s long-term commitment to the Olympic Movement, describing China Night as a platform that connects China with the world across Olympic host cities. He also announced new initiatives including a strategic partnership with the International Wushu Federation.
The evening also featured the announcement of a new joint sustainability partnership between Mengniu and TCL, highlighting the role that Olympic partners can play in advancing environmental responsibility, and building on both companies’ long-standing commitments to sustainable development.
Among the highlights of the cultural exchange were performances by Italian opera singers, who delivered a stirring rendition of Puccini’s "Nessun Dorma", and the Malanhua Children’s Choir from China’s Hebei province, who had previously performed the Olympic Hymn at the Opening Ceremony of Beijing 2022.
In addition to hosting China Night, Mengniu is supporting the Olympic Movement during Milano Cortina 2026 by promoting health, nutrition and sustainability through a new brand campaign, and by providing its wide range of dairy products to athletes in the Olympic Villages.