ESPN has deployed a team of reporters, editors, and producers to Italy as the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina prepare to captivate global audiences beginning February 6 with an opening ceremony that promises to showcase Italian culture and athletic excellence.
The networks on-site reporting team includes Emily Kaplan covering mens and womens hockey tournaments and breaking news from Milan, DArcyMaine handling figure skating, speedskating, and additional breaking news also based in Milan, and Alyssa Roenigk covering skiing and snowboarding while moving between multiple mountain locations.
Working alongside these reporters are ESPN Senior Managing Producer Jim Witalka and ESPN.com Senior Editor Amy Van Deusen, who will coordinate coverage across multiple platforms. Additionally, ESPNs international news operations have deployed Mercedes Margalot in Cortina and Katia Castorena in Milan to provide Spanish-language coverage for Latino audiences.
The digital strategy includes a dedicated Olympics section on ESPN.com featuring daily news, feature stories, and reported trend pieces, supplemented by constantly updated scoreboards, medal counts, and statistical databases. SportsCenter will provide comprehensive results reporting and Olympics information during its regular broadcasts.
The Games run from February 6-22 across Milan and Cortina dAmpezzo, with NBC holding primary U.S. broadcast rights. The opening ceremony begins at 6:30 PM ET on February 6, with international audiences across more than 180 countries expected to tune in throughout the 17-day competition.
This Winter Olympics features several new events, including mixed team competitions in Nordic combined and additional snowboarding disciplines, reflecting the International Olympic Committees ongoing efforts to attract younger audiences while maintaining traditional winter sports.