Milano Cortina 2026: A Connected Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Powered by Samsung – Setting the Stage for Los Angeles 2028

The Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 have officially come to a close, marking a new chapter in Samsung’s nearly three-decade partnership with the Olympic and Paralympic Movement. Across mountains, cities and stadiums – from San Siro to the slopes of Livigno, from the Olympic Village to the heart of Milan – Samsung’s mobile innovation helped connect athletes, fans and communities in every moment.

Guided by the message “Open always wins,” Samsung brought new perspectives to the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, opening up podium celebrations, broadcast storytelling, athlete connection and everyday interactions in ways that felt more personal, more immersive and more human than ever before.

Key Milano Cortina 2026 numbers:

• Victory Selfie: 195 selfies captured with 1,125 athletes across the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games
• Team Samsung Galaxy: 73 athletes shared their Openness stories throughout Milano Cortina 2026
• Galaxy Z Flip7 Olympic Edition distributed: To nearly 3,800 Olympic and Paralympic athletes
• Opening Ceremony broadcast integration: 26 Galaxy S25 Ultra devices embedded with Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS)
• Interpreter-enabled Games-time support: 850+ Galaxy devices embedded with Interpreter provided across the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games footprint
• Galaxy Charging Station: 64 stations helped spectators stay powered throughout the Games

The Samsung Newsroom revisits the defining milestones that shaped Milano Cortina 2026.

Winning Together: Victory Selfie Becomes Iconic Podium Culture

On the Olympic podium, the instinct to share a once-in-a-lifetime achievement comes naturally. Victory Selfie captures that instinct —as a real, athlete-shaped moment of connection, self-expression and shared celebration.

At Milano Cortina 2026, Victory Selfie continued to grow into an iconic podium culture, reflecting how athletes choose to remember and share the emotion of the moment — whether standing alone, side by side, or as a team. Powered by the Galaxy Z Flip7 Olympic Edition, medalists captured their victories directly from the podium, turning medal moments into personal, shareable memories in their own voice.

Across the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, athletes captured 195 Victory Selfie images involving 1,125 athletes. This included 714 athletes across 116 Olympic events and 411 athletes across 79 Paralympic events — reinforcing the podium as more than a ceremonial stage: a cultural moment of unity, gratitude and celebration.

In a broader sense, Victory Selfie also reflected the spirit of Openness — showing that the Games are not only about competition, but about sportsmanship, connection and the moments that bring people together beyond results.

That same spirit continued beyond the podium, as Team Samsung Galaxy shared “Open always wins” stories throughout the season, with 73 members bringing fans closer to the athletes and moments behind the Games.

Nearly 3,800 Athletes Connected With the Galaxy Z Flip7 Olympic Edition

For Milano Cortina 2026, Samsung provided the Galaxy Z Flip7 Olympic Edition to nearly 3,800 Olympians and Paralympians. Designed as an intelligent, pocket-sized companion, the Olympic Edition supported athletes from Village life to medal ceremonies.

With Galaxy AI at the core, the Olympic Edition helped athletes communicate, create and share more seamlessly throughout their Games-time journey. Key capabilities included:

• Interpreter, powered by Galaxy AI — enabling real-time translation processed directly on device, helping conversations stay natural
• Dual Recording, allowing athletes to capture both sides of a moment at once — their reactions and the world around them — for richer, more immersive storytelling
• Photo Assist, supporting fast, high-quality edits that helped athletes be creative and share memorable images with ease
• Now Brief, delivering personalized daily updates such as reminders and calendar events to support a smoother routine amid an intense schedule
• Games-time athlete services and connectivity support, including access to Athlete365, the Galaxy Athlete Card helping athletes stay informed and connected throughout the Games

The device’s distinctive design — combining Samsung’s signature blue with a custom gold frame — symbolized both unity and excellence, reflecting the spirit of Milano Cortina 2026.

Dynamic Perspectives: Galaxy Devices Integrated Into the Opening Ceremony Broadcast

Milano Cortina 2026 also expanded how fans experienced Games-time storytelling. In collaboration with Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS), Samsung helped introduce new, immersive perspectives into the Opening Ceremony broadcast environment.

For the first time at a Winter Games Opening Ceremony, 26 Galaxy S25 Ultra devices were embedded across the live broadcast setting. Positioned across athlete entrance tunnels, stadium stands and dynamic camera rig placements, Galaxy devices captured immersive views wirelessly and in real time — complementing traditional broadcast infrastructure and helping viewers worldwide feel closer to the emotion of the moment.

From the Parade of Nations to behind-the-scenes celebrations, athletes also used their Galaxy devices to capture and share personal Opening Ceremony memories — extending the experience beyond the stadium into the hands of the people who lived it.

Beyond the Spotlight: Connecting Everyday Moments Across the Games

Across Olympic Villages and venues, Samsung equipped select Games-time support teams with Galaxy devices featuring Interpreter, powered by Galaxy AI — enabling real-time translation processed directly on device, supporting day-to-day interactions without relying on network connectivity across geographically distributed mountain locations.

In total, more than 850 Galaxy devices embedded with Interpreter were provided to a select group of volunteers to support Games-time assistance across the event footprint, helping conversations stay smooth, welcoming and human-centered.

Inside competition venues, Samsung technology also supported operations and fair play. Samsung monitors supported officiating in Short-Track Speed Skating disciplines, contributing to operational clarity and consistency during competition.

Around host cities and venues, 64 Galaxy Charging Stations helped spectators stay powered during long event days, ensuring meaningful moments could be captured and shared in real time, without interruption.

Samsung House: A Central Hub for Openness

At the heart of Milan, inside the historic Palazzo Serbelloni, Samsung House became a central gathering space for athletes, media and partners throughout both the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

It hosted National Olympic Committee events, live competition viewings, athlete visits, media engagements and stakeholder meetings – creating space for reflection and shared celebration beyond competition.

The venue also showcased Samsung’s Olympic legacy through the Olympic Edition Gallery, featuring Olympic Editions from across the years and bridging nearly four decades of innovation with the present moment of Milano Cortina 2026.

Meanwhile, the Victory Profile portrait series was captured on Galaxy S25 Ultra — featuring athletes throughout Milano Cortina 2026 — and visitors were invited to step into the experience themselves, using the same device to capture their own moment.

Opening Up the Future: From Milano Cortina 2026 to Los Angeles 2028

From Olympic Editions distributed to thousands of athletes, to broadcast integration, AI-powered communication tools and Games-time operational support, Samsung’s role at Milano Cortina 2026 reflected the evolving way the world experiences the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

As Milano Cortina 2026 came to a close, attention began to shift toward what comes next. Building on the spirit of “Open always wins,” Samsung will continue to open up the Olympic and Paralympic experience with new perspectives, new technologies and new generations,  ensuring that connection remains at the heart of the Olympic and Paralympic Games through Los Angeles 2028.