What is an Olympic test event?
Updated: December 18, 2024
“Practice makes perfect” isn’t only a mantra for athletes when it comes to the Olympics, but also for organizers. This is why organizing committees hold Olympic test events.
Test events offer organizers the opportunity to test out sporting, medical, logistical, and technological systems that will be in place for upcoming Olympic Games. It’s a dress rehearsal, of sorts, for the big show.
Test events are also important for athletes preparing for the Games. They have a chance to get used to a competition venue or course, including possible weather conditions, altitude, elevation profile, and more. These events also provide athletes the opportunity to scope out some of their international competitors that they’re likely to face off with at the Games.
While test events are not exact replicas of the Olympic day-of, they do ensure the general readiness of the venue and staff and allow for the identification of any issues that may require adaptation prior to the Games.
After all, when the world’s eyes are on the Olympics, no one wants to make a mistake, let alone a preventable one.
Here is the list of Milano Cortina 2026 test events:
Competition Test Events
- FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup (Men’s Downhill & Super-G), Stelvio Ski Centre: December 28-29, 2024
- FIS Cross-Country World Cup Tour de Ski, Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium: January 3-5, 2025
- FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup (Women’s Downhill & Super-G), Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre: January 18-19, 2025
- IBU Biathlon World Cup, Anterselva Biathlon Arena: January 23-26, 2025
- ISU Short Track World Tour, Milano Ice Skating Arena: February 14-16, 2025
- Road to 26 Trophy, Milano Ice Skating Arena: February 19-20, 2025
- ISMF Ski Mountaineering World Cup, Stelvio Alpine Skiing Centre: February 22-23, 2025
- FIS World Cup Aerials & Moguls, Livigno Aerials & Moguls Park: March 11-13, 2025
- World Junior Curling Championships, Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium: April 10-21, 2025
- FIS Nordic Summer Festival, Predazzo Ski Jumping Stadium: September 18-21, 2025
- IBSF World Cup, Cortina Sliding Centre: November 17-23, 2025
- International Training & Luge Competition, Cortina Sliding Centre: November 24-30, 2025
- ISU Junior World Cup Speed Skating, Milano Speed Skating Stadium: November 29-30, 2025
- Ice Hockey U20 World Championship, Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena: December 8-14, 2025
- FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup, Stelvio Ski Centre (Men’s Downhill & Super-G): December 28-29, 2025
- FIS Cross-Country World Cup Tour de Ski, Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium: January 2-4, 2026
Training Test Events
- Pre-Homologation Test, Bobsleigh/Skeleton/Luge, Cortina Sliding Centre: March 25-29, 2025
- International Luge Training, Cortina Sliding Centre: October 27-November 4, 2025
- International Training Bobsleigh/Skeleton, Cortina Sliding Centre: November 7-16, 2025
- Slopestyle International Training, Livigno Snow Park: January 16-18, 2026
- Ski Cross International Training, Livigno Snow Park: February 1-2, 2026
