International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry speaks during a press conference in Milan, Italy, Feb. 20, 2026. (Xinhua/Hu Xingyu)

MILAN, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry hailed the Milan-Cortina Winter Games as "truly successful" on Friday, saying the event had "surpassed everyone's expectations."

Coventry, overseeing her first Olympic Games as the IOC chief, made the remarks at a press conference two days before the Games concluded.

"I don't think you can leave these Games not feeling inspired by what we have seen on the field of play," she said. "I really want to thank the Milano Cortina 2026 team across all the venues, and all the volunteers."

Coventry highlighted her time spent in the mountain venues, describing the setting as emblematic of a true Winter Games experience.

"I have spent the last couple of days up in the mountains under the snow, and it felt like a true Olympic Winter Games," she said.

The Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics has been staged across several locations in northern Italy, including Milan and the mountain resort of Cortina d'Ampezzo.

Despite some complaints over the dispersed layout, Coventry emphasized that the 2026 edition had demonstrated a new way of organizing the Winter Games, particularly in terms of sustainability and the use of multiple venues.

"These Games are truly successful in a new way of doing things, in a sustainable way of doing things, in a way that I think many people thought maybe we couldn't do, or couldn't be done well," Coventry said.

"It's been done extremely well, and it's surpassed everyone's expectations."

Coventry also shared feedback from athletes who competed in Cortina, noting that some felt their opening ceremony experience was even more intimate and memorable than entering Milan's iconic San Siro stadium.

"I have had the opportunity to go to all the venues and the athletes are extremely happy," she said. "They are happy because the experience that both the Milano Cortina 2026 team and my team have delivered to them has been the same."

Coventry credited organizers for listening to feedback from the IOC Athletes' Commission, particularly in ensuring that competitors enjoyed a consistent experience despite the geographical spread of the Games.

"I have to thank the Milano Cortina 2026 team for hearing from our Athletes' Commission, who wanted the experiences across different venues to be exactly the same," she added.

Looking ahead, Coventry said the IOC would analyze post-Games data to assess what worked and what could be improved, but stressed that Milano Cortina 2026 had already set a strong benchmark.

"We always look at the data after the Games, and see what worked and didn't," she said. "But these Games have been really successful in showing a new and sustainable way of doing things." ■

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry attends a press conference in Milan, Italy, Feb. 20, 2026. (Xinhua/Hu Xingyu)

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry speaks during a press conference in Milan, Italy, Feb. 20, 2026. (Xinhua/Hu Xingyu)