Milano Cortina Olympics Ignite Fashion Feuds And Security Fears

As the world sets its sights on northern Italy for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, the event is shaping up to be far more than just a showcase of athletic prowess. It’s a confluence of global fashion, shifting national identities, and even political controversy—an Olympic moment that reflects the complexities of our times as much as the thrill of competition itself.

Every four years, the Winter Olympics transform athletes into icons—not just for their feats on the slopes or ice, but for the way they represent their nations in style. According to Observer, the opening ceremony is a “theater of national identity,” where some 3,000 competitors parade in garments that distill centuries of culture into a single, scrutinized look. Designers from around the globe are tasked with creating attire that must withstand both the elements and the eyes of billions, a challenge that has produced everything from Lithuania’s radical Issey Miyake pleated capes in 1992 to Canada’s cowboy-inspired coats in 1988.

Few partnerships have become as synonymous with Olympic fashion as Ralph Lauren and Team USA. Since 2008, the American brand’s preppy, timeless aesthetic—think navy blazers, white trousers, and newsboy caps—has defined the U.S. Olympic look. For Milano Cortina 2026, Ralph Lauren’s design process began two and a half years ahead of the Games, with the goal, as David Lauren put it, to “become timeless.” Their latest Team USA Opening Ceremony Sweater, a turtleneck that’s substantial enough for a cold walk but refined enough for dinner, is the latest chapter in this ongoing legacy.

The Italian hosts, naturally, are not to be outdone. Emporio Armani, dressing Team Italy, has opted for a chevron-quilted down jacket from its Essentials collection. As Observer notes, it channels “Milanese sensibility without the flag-waving patriotism”—a nod to the city’s fashion-forward reputation. Meanwhile, Le Coq Sportif’s navy Tricolore trousers will outfit nearly 200 French athletes and staff, offering “élégance à la française” with a signature tricolor braid, soft drape, and ribbed hems.

Beyond the athletes, the Games’ vast workforce will also be kitted out in style. Salomon, a French Alps brand now helmed by former MM6 Maison Margiela designer Heikki Salonen, is designing uniforms for more than 18,000 volunteers and staff. Their XT-Whisper Nocturne Vision sneakers, with reflective details and technical flair, embody the “performance and subcultural relevance” that’s made Salomon a staple of both mountain and street style.

Other brands are using the Olympics to make bold statements. Moncler, famous for its high-altitude gear, is dressing Team Brazil in the reversible Crachin jacket—a piece that flips between quilted shell and plush shearling, perfect for both slopes and après-ski. Ben Sherman, meanwhile, has created official Team GB knitwear for British supporters, featuring a jacquard Union Flag and Olympic branding for that vintage ski-lodge look. Even Skims, Kim Kardashian’s loungewear empire, is providing Team USA athletes with cotton poplin Olympic boxers, emphasizing the importance of rest and recovery off the field.

The reach of Olympic fashion extends well beyond the stadium. Adidas, for example, is dressing 12 national teams, including Team GB, Germany, Poland, Hungary, and Turkey, and collaborating with Mexico City’s Hermanos Koumori for a chic update on its Adizero Evo SL running shoe. Prada has timed the opening of its first Cortina d’Ampezzo boutique to the Games, offering Speedrock sneakers that blend alpine boot aesthetics with high-fashion sensibility. Nike, the official technical partner for Team USA’s training and recovery, is rolling out the Structure Plus road running shoe, combining stability and responsive cushioning for athletes and amateurs alike. For Team Iceland, the century-old Reykjavík label 66°North brings rugged, weathered authenticity, outfitting athletes in garments built for North Atlantic conditions.

But the Olympics are never just about fashion or even sport—they’re also about personal journeys and shifting identities. Few stories illustrate this better than that of Karen and Mark Chanloung. As reported by the official Olympic news site, the siblings were raised in Italy’s Aosta Valley, where skiing is a way of life. Born to an Italian mother and Thai father, they switched allegiance to Thailand in 2016 and have since become pioneers for Thai winter sports, representing the nation at PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022. Milano Cortina 2026 marks their third consecutive Winter Games, and, as Karen, 29, told reporters, “This Olympics will be more special because it’s in Italy, where we grew up.” Their story is a family affair: their father serves as team manager and technical lead, their mother as physiotherapist, and their grandmother Ada will attend in person. Mark has also taken on the role of mentor, guiding younger Thai skiers and helping to expand the global footprint of winter sports beyond traditional strongholds.

Yet, as the world prepares to descend on the Italian Alps, a different kind of drama is unfolding behind the scenes—one that speaks to the intersection of security, politics, and international cooperation. On January 28, 2026, VisaHQ reported that dozens of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from Homeland Security Investigations would be embedded in the security apparatus for the Games, working from the U.S. Consulate in Milan to exchange intelligence on terrorism and cyber-threats and help protect American athletes and officials. What might have seemed like a routine bilateral arrangement has ignited a fierce political backlash in Italy. Milan’s mayor Giuseppe Sala called ICE a “militia that kills,” warning that its presence could tarnish Italy’s image during an event expected to attract over a million visitors. Former prime minister Giuseppe Conte echoed these concerns, demanding that the Meloni government set strict limits on ICE activities within Italy.

Critics point to ICE’s controversial domestic record—including high-profile raids and shootings in U.S. cities—as fundamentally at odds with Italy’s approach to public-order policing. There are fears of reputational damage and even legal liability if agents overstep their mandate. In response, Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi has sought to reassure the public, emphasizing that ICE agents will have no arrest powers and will not patrol streets or Olympic venues. The episode, however, underscores how international security partnerships can collide with local politics, potentially affecting accreditation, immigration clearances, and risk assessments for sponsors and media companies planning large deployments to the Games.

For travelers and companies, the practical challenges are real. VisaHQ now recommends building extra lead time into visa and customs procedures, monitoring parliamentary moves that could restrict foreign security forces, and considering contingency plans should similar arrangements become problematic for other EU hosts of mega-events.

As the countdown to Milano Cortina 2026 continues, the Games promise to be a spectacle of style, heritage, and competition—but also a stage for the world’s evolving conversations about identity, security, and cooperation. The Olympic flame may shine brightest on the slopes and rinks, but its glow will illuminate far more than medals this time around.