Chemmy Alcott
Four-time Olympic alpine ski racer on BBC Two

Always the underdogs, but that's part of our strength. Team GB come into this Olympics full of ambition.

"You have to be superhuman" and "these sports are for people who take risks."

Those are the words of Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

I think it's fair to say that the Winter Olympics has the stamp of approval from Ibrahimovic.

Jess Anderson
BBC Sport in Cortina

It's already been a busy week in Cortina with Lindsey Vonn's announcement that she has ruptured her ACL but is still hopeful she can compete. That came before the news that the British skeleton helmets are not legal while the curlers have already got their campaign under way.

I headed up to Olimpia delle Tofane this morning to get a glimpse of Vonn's training run, which went off without a hitch. But WOW. What a place.

My shocking photography skills do not do this place justice.

Image source, BBC Sport

I've even managed to squeeze in a trip to the athlete's village, which looks essentially like a traditional alpine village with wooden huts for bedrooms and spectacular views of the Dolomites.

There's been so much snow in Cortina this week that there are icicles hanging off the wooden structures the athletes will call home for the next few weeks.

Hosting 66 nations with 1,400 beds, a dining hall where favourites are of course pasta and pizza and even an Apres Ski bar - serving only non-alcoholic drinks of course - the village is a key part of the athlete experience.

Image source, BBC Sport

Katie Falkingham
BBC Sport in Livigno

Up here in Livigno, we've had A LOT of snow this week. None of the fake stuff this time around.

Every day this week, these poor souls have been shovelling snow off this area of the venue, only for another big dump to fall overnight.

A thankless task..

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, BBC Sport

BBC Two

BBC Two's coverage of the opening ceremony is under way.

Clare Balding is alongside two-time Olympic skeleton champion Lizzy Yarnold, and four-time Olympic alpine ski racer Chemmy Alcott.

You can either tune into BBC Two, click 'Watch live' at the top of this live text or head over to BBC iPlayer to watch the coverage.

Emma Smith
BBC Sport at San Siro

If you need to catch up on everything Winter Olympics - from Haitian cross country skiers to penis injections - then check out the What In The World podcast from BBC World Service.

It is only 12 minutes long, and stars me, so it is your perfect bitesize guide.

Your guide to the Winter Olympics 2026

Image source, BBC Sport

The growth of the Winter Olympics from 1956 to 2026 – five times as many events and almost four times as many athletes – means it would be impossible today for a ski resort like Cortina to stage the Olympics single-handedly.

The 2026 Games will be the most geographically widespread, with events in multiple regions and cities, including Milan, which is Italy's second biggest city.

The IOC also prizes sustainability, and spreading events around – something president Kirsty Coventry says will be "the new normal", external, external – meaning less new infrastructure is required.

See five more charts which tell you what you need to know about Milan-Cortina 2026 by clicking here

Katie Falkingham
BBC Sport in Livigno

Buonasera from the absolutely stunning Livigno Snow Park, near the Swiss border in the Italian Alps.

This is where the freestyle skiing and snowboarding will take place over the next couple of weeks. It's just a short walk from the resort centre (and, pleasingly, my apartment!).

It's all very compact, too. On the photo below, you can see - from left to right - the snowboard/ski cross course, the halfpipe, the slopestyle course and then that of the parallel giant slalom.

Image source, BBC Sport

And then just around to the right is the incredible big air. This photo does not do it justice how MASSIVE this structure is.

The most exciting thing about this place? We have a very good chance of seeing lots of Team GB medals here...

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

UK Sport believes Team GB could win a record-breaking eight medals at Milan-Cortina 2026.

The funding body hopes athletes will deliver between four and eight medals at the Games, which are being held in Italy from 6-22 February.

The current record of five was achieved at Sochi 2014 and matched in Pyeongchang four years later.

UK Sport said the medal range of four to eight reflected Team GB's athletes "being more competitive in more sports at a winter games than ever before".

Read more on Team GB's possibly record-breaking games here

Emma Smith
BBC Sport at San Siro

If you're wondering why the historic San Siro has been marked for demoltion and regeneration - these are the seats in the main stands.

Olympic venue, non-league facilities.

Image source, BBC Sport

Former Sweden football international Zlatan Ibrahimoivc is in attendance for the opening ceremony in Milan.

Image source, Getty Images

And three-time Wimbledon champion, Boris Becker is also alongside some of the other sports stars celebrating the official opening of the 2026 Games.

Image source, Getty Images

Charlotte Whistlecroft
BBC Sport in Milan

I just spoke to Jeff Goldblum on the red carpet and he was obsessed with my surname! He said he wanted it as his middle name. Feeling very proud to be a Whistlecroft right now!

Emma Smith
BBC Sport at San Siro

When I woke up this morning to driving rain, I feared the worst - a repeat of the Paris 2024 Olympic opening ceremony, destroyed by a deluge.

But those fears were unfounded, as it turned into a beautiful late winter evening in Milan - blue skies and not a cloud in sight.

When I arrived at 4pm local time, already there were queues to enter San Siro and an even longer queue for the merchandise store. If you want to shell out 65 euros for a plushie of the 2026 mascot Tina, you'll need to hurry.

Jess Anderson
BBC Sport in Cortina

When I arrived in stunning Cortina on Monday the sun was shining and it wasn’t feeling particularly ‘Winter Olympics-y'.

But on Wednesday it did not stop snowing all day, covering this picturesque Italian town in a thick white blanket. Even locals have been stunned by the sheer volume of snow.

Anyway, as the week has gone on this beautiful ski resort in the Dolomites has fully embraced the Olympic spirit with flags draped across the cobbled streets, shops selling Olympic-themed merch and, of course, the five Olympic rings in prime position. Can’t pass up that photo op.

Image source, BBC Sport

The Olympic cauldron that will be lit this evening sits in the heart of the town with incredible views up to the slopes, where the women’s Alpine skiing will take place.

At the top of the town sit the curling and sliding centres, reached by working your way through the cosy streets adorned with fairy lights giving the town a Christmas-like feel.

The general feeling so far is that it's amazing to have a Winter Olympics which is actually set against a backdrop of real snow. It feels like a real treat to see this town in all its glory and fully geared up for the Games.

Sam Webb
BBC Sport in Milan

Former American snowboarder Shaun White is answering the same question as he makes his way down: what’s it like being here as a spectator?

He says he’s “actually still super busy” but the pressure is off.

He also told us that he’d love to have raced in a bobsleigh in another life. “I just wanna go fast”, with a smile to the camera.

Image source, Getty Images

With a target of three to seven medals, Team GB were left to "lick their wounds" after ending Beijing 2022 with only two curling medals - won on the last two days of competition - to show for a fortnight of upsets and near-misses.

Britain's best medal haul from a Winter Games is five - at Sochi 2014 and Pyeongchang 2018 - but UK Sport says up to eight medals could be won at Milano-Cortina 2026.

Find out why the 2026 winter games could be GB's best ever by clicking here