An inside look at Milan's Olympic Village
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U.S. speedskater Casey Dawson, with the foot-shaped phone case he has to carry after losing his fantasy football league. Photo: Ina Fried/Axios
With the 2026 Winter Olympics just a few days away, athletes from around the world are settling into the Olympic Village: sampling the food, exploring the mediation rooms and recreation areas and — of course — trying to score the coolest pins.
Why it matters: The village isn't just where the athletes sleep, but also where they train, eat and get to know their fellow athletes.
The big picture: The digs in Milan are similar to — but more concentrated than — the sprawling campus that served as the athletes' home in Paris.
- The Olympic Village is only home to a portion of the athletes in this year's Games, with others staying closer to their mountain events.
- In Cortina, 1,400 athletes are staying in specially outfitted trailers, while hotels are being repurposed in two other mountain areas.
Zoom in: The Milan campus includes housing units, workout areas, a main dining center and recreation areas — often set up by various Olympic sponsors.
- China's Alibaba Cloud put a high-tech spin on pin trading, with athletes using gestures or voice to guide an AI-powered robot to pick the desired pin.
- Coca-Cola offers foosball and air hockey, as well as a photo booth. Samsung had an area where athletes could play various sports-related video games.
- For those looking for calm, the mindfulness zone that debuted in Paris is back, including VR headsets. Sponsor Corona Cero is offering soundbaths and breath work classes inside its pavilion, and even allowing athletes to borrow a plant for their stay.
Canadian ice hockey player Natalie Spooner was enjoying the recreation facilities on Tuesday, playing video games and getting a customized Coke can with her face on it.
- "We only just got here yesterday, so we're kind of taking today to go explore, check it all out," Spooner told Axios.
- Nearby, several French ice hockey players were enjoying a game of foosball, while others tried their hand at air hockey.
Zoom out: For Spooner and American speed skater Casey Dawson, these Olympics are a welcome opportunity to share the experience with friends and family, something that wasn't possible during the COVID-era Beijing games.
- "Having our families in the stands will be really special this time," Spooner said. Practice for women's hockey starts Wednesday with the first games taking place the following day — ahead of Friday's Opening Ceremony.
- Dawson, a Utah native who also competed in Beijing, said he is looking to get a fuller Olympic experience this time around. "We can go outside the village, check out the city, get to mingle with all the other athletes in different countries," he said.
Yes, but: Things will get serious soon. Dawson said he is skipping the Opening Ceremony because it is close to when he starts competing.
- Already, Team USA has taken over a floor of its living space for indoor cycling. "Our venue is 45 minutes away, so being able to have a gym here is super important to us athletes."
One fun thing: Dawson is carrying around a phone case that has a giant plastic foot attached to it. It's the cost of having lost his fantasy football league this season, he said.
- His goal now: Bring that foot back to the U.S. wearing a medal.
