UAE made historic debut at Milano Cortina Winter Olympics
text_fields
The United Arab Emirates has completed its first participation at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, held from 6 to 22 February across Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.
The Games featured 2,900 athletes competing in 114 medal events across eight sports and 16 disciplines.
The UAE competed in Alpine skiing, entering both the women’s and men’s events. Piera Hudson represented the country in the women’s races, while Alexander Astridge took part in the men’s competition alongside 96 other skiers. Alpine skiing is considered one of the most technically demanding events on the Winter Olympic program, requiring speed, precision and control.
Ghanim Mubarak Al Hajeri, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Sports, described the participation as a significant step in expanding the UAE’s presence in global sport. He said registering the country’s name at the Winter Games reflects progress in athlete preparation and qualification systems. He added that presenting the team’s training suit to the Olympic Museum documents the start of a new chapter in the UAE’s sporting record.
Ahmed Al Tayeb, UAE Chef de Mission, said competing against athletes from countries with established winter sports environments posed an added challenge and noted that the team sought to represent the UAE appropriately on the international stage.
Mohammed Khadem, Chairman of the Ski Committee at the UAE Winter Sports Federation, said preparations included specialised technical training in Alpine skiing, with a focus on speed, balance, turning techniques, endurance and performance control under pressure. He said the experience gained would support the continued development of skiing in the UAE.
During an official ceremony, the UAE Alpine Ski Team presented its national training suit to the Olympic Museum, in line with Olympic protocol. Participating nations traditionally submit official apparel to commemorate their involvement, contributing to the historical record of the Games and reflecting cooperation among countries.