Andorra Skips Milan Olympics Ceremony for Training

Andorra's athletes face significant challenges in participating in the main opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, scheduled for 6 February at Milan's San Siro stadium. The early start to several competitions and the distance from Milan to Andorran skiers' venues have led the Andorran Olympic Committee (COA) to prepare for parallel, lower-key events in Cortina d'Ampezzo and Predazzo instead.

The entire Andorran delegation will consist of alpine and cross-country skiers, who will already be at their competition sites on inauguration day. Official training for alpine events begins two days earlier, making travel to Milan incompatible with preparations. In men's alpine skiing, athletes will compete at Bormio's Stelvio Ski Centre, where Joan Verdú has secured his spot. Bartumeu Gabriel, Àlex Rius and Xavi Cornella are vying for one additional place, with Gabriel holding the strongest position.

Women's alpine representation is guaranteed for Cande Moreno at Cortina's Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre, which will also host one of two Olympic cauldrons and simultaneous ceremonies. Jordina Caminal and Carla Mijares are contending for another women's spot. In cross-country skiing, Gina del Rio and Irineu Esteve are set to race in Predazzo from 7 February, another site for parallel opening events.

These arrangements align with the decentralised format of Milan-Cortina 2026, which includes athlete parades in Livigno alongside the main ceremony to accommodate early-starting disciplines. For the first time, two cauldrons will be lit: one in Milan and one in Cortina.

The COA anticipates a minimum of six athletes, potentially rising to seven—matching or exceeding Andorra's record of six from Lillehammer 1994, Vancouver 2010 and Sochi 2014. Verdú and Moreno are confirmed in alpine, alongside del Rio and Esteve in cross-country. Andorra holds four guaranteed alpine quotas (two per gender) under International Olympic Committee criteria, with potential expansions from Verdú's top-30 World Cup standing, country quotas and possible reassignments. Final selection, coordinated with the Andorran Ski Federation for over a year, will depend strictly on World Cup and Europa Cup results. The COA notes that presence at San Siro remains uncertain.