Andorra's Historic Winter Olympics Delegation Rated 8/10 by COA President

Xavier Espot Miró, president of the Andorran Olympic Committee (COA), rated Andorra's delegation to the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics an 8 out of 10—or a 9 for optimists—describing it as the most important in the country's winter Olympic history, despite challenging conditions.

He shared this assessment Thursday morning at Andbank's auditorium during the renewal of a sponsorship agreement with the COA. The deal, valued at €20,000 per year and renewable annually, has linked the two entities for over two decades. Maria Suárez, Andbank's country banking director, called it vital for ongoing support of Andorran sport and the Olympic movement, including the recent Games. Espot thanked the bank for its consistent backing, which aided the delegation's positive outcomes.

Espot noted the competition was neither easy nor ideal, yet results reflected Andorra's competitive reality as a small winter sports nation. He sent warm wishes to skier Cande Moreno for a quick and full recovery from her injury, and addressed snowboarder Irineu Esteve's last-minute withdrawal. The COA applied no pressure, he stressed, fully respecting the athlete's decision. Both situations, he said, ultimately united the team more closely. Esteve, with his high-level achievements, earned gratitude for past contributions, though his absence was noticeable and he may now step away from competition.

Key performances included Joan Verdú's 10th place in giant slalom—proof of Andorra's structures and talent at world elite levels—Jordina Caminal's 24th in downhill on a intimidating course, and Xavier Cornella's 21st in slalom. Espot praised organizers for excelling in the decentralized format across Milan and Cortina, overcoming expectations of chaos through strong leadership.

Looking forward, Espot said qualification standards for events like the 2027 Small States of Europe Games in Monaco would be released soon. A long list of athletes is prepared in coordination with federations and the technical commission chaired by Jaume Tomàs. He also outlined the upcoming rollout of the IOC's Andorra Olimpisme 365 program, aimed at embedding Olympic values across society year-round to build a high-performance sports culture with respect for nature. Espot affirmed Andorra's capacity for large, competitive teams in future Alpine Winter Games, including France 2030.