(Lebanon, NH – February 2, 2026) – As the world looks ahead to the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, Global Rescue continues its long-standing role supporting the health, safety and emergency preparedness of US Ski & Snowboard athletes competing on the world’s biggest stage. The partnership, which dates back to 2006, reflects nearly two decades of experience managing medical and security risk for elite athletes competing in alpine ski, snowboarding and freestyle skiing events across multiple Olympic host countries.

“Elite winter sport is inherently dangerous and that reality does not change just because the athletes are the best in the world,” said Dan Richards, CEO of Global Rescue. “In many ways, Olympic competition amplifies risk because athletes are operating at maximum speed, maximum height and maximum physical demand.”

Since first supporting US Ski & Snowboard athletes in 2006, Global Rescue has provided emergency action planning, medical advisory services and evacuation expertise through every Winter Olympic Games. Over time, the scope of Olympic risk management has evolved, shaped by changing venues, geopolitical considerations, environmental conditions and most dramatically, the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In the early years, our focus was primarily on traumatic injury and evacuation logistics,” Richards said. “When an athlete crashes at speed, what matters is immediate medical expertise and the ability to get them to the right level of care without delay.”

As Olympic host locations grew more complex, security and situational risk also became part of the equation. Different countries brought different challenges, from infrastructure limitations to broader security concerns.

“A threat is a threat, whether it comes from injury, illness or instability,” Richards said. “The critical factor is having a plan that allows someone to leave a situation quickly and safely if circumstances demand it.”

The 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing marked a turning point in Olympic medical support. China’s closed-loop COVID-19 system restricted movement and prevented Global Rescue medical and security experts from being physically on-site. Despite those limitations, Global Rescue remained fully integrated into US Ski & Snowboard’s emergency preparedness strategy.

“Beijing forced everyone to rethink how medical support works when access is restricted,” Richards said. “Physical presence is valuable, but expertise, decision-making and real-time medical advisory are indispensable.”

During the Beijing Games, US Ski & Snowboard athletes and staff had direct access to Global Rescue’s on-staff physicians for real-time consultations covering injuries, illness and COVID-related concerns. In serious cases, Global Rescue worked alongside official Olympic and host-nation resources to assess treatment options and evacuation pathways.

“The pandemic made it clear that Olympic medical planning must function under worst-case constraints, not ideal conditions,” Richards said. “That lesson now informs how we prepare for every major event.”

Looking ahead to the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, Global Rescue expects a renewed set of challenges. Events will take place across northern Italy, with Alpine Skiing in Bormio and Cortina d’Ampezzo and Snowboarding and Freestyle Skiing in Livigno. Snowboarding disciplines will include slalom, cross, halfpipe, slopestyle and big air, while Freestyle Skiing will feature moguls, aerials, halfpipe and slopestyle. Ski Mountaineering will debut as a new Olympic discipline, highlighting endurance and technical skill in high-alpine terrain.

“These are iconic venues, but they are also demanding and unforgiving,” Richards said. “Courses like the Stelvio downhill are famous for a reason. Weather variability, ice, wind and mixed snow conditions can change risk profiles overnight.”

Richards also pointed to the weather as an ever-present factor in winter sports competition and safety.

“Weather shifts are always a challenge for winter athletes. Wind, temperature and precipitation changes introduce unpredictability into snow quality and course preparation,” he said. “That affects speed, control and ultimately athlete safety.”

While the final US Ski & Snowboard Olympic rosters are still being determined, several prominent athletes are emerging as contenders. Alpine stars such as Mikaela Shiffrin and Ryan Cochran-Siegle, snowboarders Jamie Anderson and Julia Marino and freestyle athletes including Alex Hall, Alex Ferreira and Jaelin Kauf are among those expected to compete as qualification continues through the season.

“These athletes are pushing the limits of what’s physically possible,” Richards said. “Our role is to make sure that if something goes wrong, there is immediate access to expert medical guidance and a clear path to definitive care.”

Global Rescue notes that the same risks faced by Olympians, including high-speed crashes, traumatic injuries, remote venues, severe weather and complex evacuation logistics, are regularly encountered by travelers, adventurers and professionals operating worldwide.

“The Olympics are the most visible example of high-risk travel and performance, but they are not unique,” Richards said. “What we do for elite athletes mirrors what we provide every day to our members around the world.”

As preparations continue for Milano Cortina 2026, Global Rescue emphasizes that experience, adaptability and proactive planning remain the foundation of effective risk management.

“After nearly twenty years of Olympic support, one lesson stands above all others,” Richards said. “Hope is not a strategy. Preparation is.”

###

About Global Rescue 

Global Rescue is the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services to enterprises, governments and individuals. Founded in 2004, Global Rescue maintains exclusive relationships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations and Elite Medical Group. The company has provided medical and security support during every major global crisis over the past two decades. 
For more information, visit www.globalrescue.com.