As the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics head into their final hours, Middle Eastern delegations are set to leave Italy without a single medal, highlighting both the region’s growing presence at the Games and the enduring dominance of traditional winter-sports powers.
Of the 122 current National Olympic Committees (NOCs) that have ever sent athletes to the Winter Olympic Games, 92 are competing in Milan Cortina. The bid to win a medal is more elusive for some than others.