The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) and the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC) held the “Team Korea Official Launch Ceremony for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026” on January 22, and Minister CHAE attended to encourage the national team.

The ceremony, aimed at boosting morale and reaffirming the delegation’s resolve, brought together around 100 participants, including KSOC President Ryu Seung-min, International Olympic Committee (IOC) Member Kim Jae-youl (President of the International Skating Union, ISU), Delegation Head Lee Soo-kyung (President of the Korea Skating Union, KSU), KSOC executives, and representatives from national sport federations.

The Olympic Winter Games will take place from February 6 to 22 across Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. Korea’s delegation is expected to comprise approximately 140 members, including around 60 athletes competing in six sports. The main delegation is scheduled to depart on January 30 and return on February 23.

Joint Inter-Agency Support System Established for Athletes’ Safe Participation

To ensure the delegation’s safe participation, the Ministry has established a close cooperation framework with relevant agencies. Under the leadership of Second Vice Minister Kim Dae-hyun, the MCST is operating an inter-agency task force involving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Counterterrorism Center under the Office for Government Policy Coordination, the Ministry of Unification, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, and other related institutions. On site, the MCST will operate a centralized situation room in cooperation with the KSOC to provide continuous and coordinated support to the delegation throughout the Games.

In addition, the MCST and KSOC have established and are operating a crisis response manual to ensure swift and systematic responses to potential incidents during the Games. They have provided advanced training on recently updated competition rules by sport and distributed sport-specific guidelines outlining response procedures in the event of judging errors. The two organizations have also coordinated a joint response system with relevant ministries to prepare for various contingencies, including issues related to national symbols and athlete injuries.

Comprehensive Support to Maximize Athletes’ Performance

The MCST and the KSOC are providing comprehensive support to enhance athletic performance tailored to winter sports. Since July 2025, through the “2026 Milano Cortina TeamUp KOREA” project, they have supported customized training equipment, overseas training programs, and participation in international competitions. They have also expanded psychological support by deploying specialists in sports psychiatry and are providing close, sports medicine– and sports science–based management, along with scientific and systematic assistance through initiatives such as the integrated AI-based performance analysis to help athletes perform at their best.

To support the delegation’s local adaptation and performance maintenance during the Games, the MCST and KSOC will operate local meal support centers. As competition venues are spread across multiple areas, including Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo, and Valtellina, for the first time in Olympic history, three meal support centers will be established, one in each venue area. From February 6 to 22, the centers will provide approximately 3,500 Korean meal boxes, helping athletes maintain optimal condition, even in unfamiliar environments.

Minister CHAE said, “I hope the Korean delegation can compete safely and confidently on the ice rinks and snowy slopes of the Milano-Cortina Games. Together with the Korean people, I will be cheering for them as they showcase their dedication and efforts on the world stage.”