Olympic speed skating is measured in seconds. Travel time between venues? Hours

A plan to make the Olympics more sustainable means reusing old venues. And sometimes they're far apart

By Chris Knight
Published Feb 02, 2026
Last updated 4 hours ago
3 minute read
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Supporters gather outside the San Siro stadium prior the Italian Serie A football match between Inter Milan and Napoli in Milan, on Jan. 11, 2026. The stadium will host the Olympics opening ceremonies in February. Photo by Stefano RELLANDINI /AFP

The modern Winter Olympics are a relative newcomer to the pantheon. The original Games, held in Olympia in honour of Zeus, began in 776 BC and were abolished some 1,200 years later by Roman Emperor Theodosius I.

The modern summer games kicked off in Athens in 1896, but the Winter Olympics didn’t begin until 1924. The first of those was in Chamonix, France, with all 16 events across five sports (bobsleigh, curling, hockey, skating and Nordic skiing) taking place within the town. The 2026 Olympics, however, look a little different. These Games are the most widespread in history.