The 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics will officially get underway on Friday, after the snowboarding competitions begin one day earlier. Several weeks ago, in a video interview with CGTN Sports Scene's Greg Laffradi, Johan Eliasch, President of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), reflected on China's Olympic legacy following Beijing 2022, while also looking ahead to the upcoming Games in Italy.

"I remember Beijing. It was very impressive," Eliasch said. "All the infrastructure, the setup, the people, the passion for snow sports. And the events and how they played out so far this season highlight the quality and also the readiness of the China's Olympic legacy and demonstrating also their capacity to host elite-level competitions. And it's important. The venues don't only support athlete performance, but also provide very high standards for international spectators and also media coverage. So it's all very positive. And I can see a very bright future ahead for China."

Italy will host the Winter Games for the third time, after first doing so in Cortina d'Ampezzo in 1956, followed 50 years later by Turin in 2006. The upcoming Milano Cortina edition will be the most geographically-widespread Winter Olympics in history, with the snow events taking place at five different locations.

"So I think this is something that we'll have to take a hard look at following Milano Cortina," the FIS chief noted. "It is helpful insofar as it gives more optionality for how you can organize the Games. But it does come with, call it, side effects. And that is logistics. Also cost. And also a much higher carbon footprint that involves. Is this the future, or will this be seen as an experiment? That remains to be seen."

As a skier and fan, Eliasch noted that he is looking forward to seeing the Olympic performance of Chinese superstar Gu Ailing. Gu, who won the women's freeski big air and halfpipe gold medals four years ago in Beijing, is widely expected by many observers to add to her accolades in Italy.

"I think, obviously, Gu Ailing is, everybody is going to watch what she's doing," Eliasch added. "And I wish her the best of success. Then, of course, we have [American Alpine skier] Lindsey Vonn, and I think we're all speechless at what she has done."