CALGARY — Canada’s Olympic skeleton program will take a key step toward the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games this week, as Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton and the Canadian Olympic Committee prepare to formally announce the athletes nominated to represent the country.
The organizations said they will unveil the skeleton athletes nominated to compete for Team Canada at Milano Cortina 2026 during an event in Calgary on Wednesday morning. The announcement is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. MT on Wednesday, Jan. 21, and will include opportunities for media interviews, photography and b-roll.
For Canada’s high-performance winter sport system, Olympic nominations are a critical milestone that signals both competitive readiness and the culmination of a multi-year qualification process. While the final Olympic roster will ultimately depend on selection policies and the International Olympic Committee’s accreditation rules, nomination announcements provide early clarity for athletes, sponsors and national sport organizations planning for the Games.
Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton and the COC described the Calgary gathering as a formal team event that will combine ceremonial elements with public engagement.
“The event will include a short presentation with remarks from Team Canada’s Milano Cortina 2026 Chef de Mission and Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton leadership, in addition to a Team Canada Jacket Ceremony,” the organizations said in a statement.
The jacket ceremony is a long-standing Team Canada tradition and is often used to mark an athlete’s official entry into the Olympic team environment. It also serves as a visual symbol for partners and supporters of the national team, providing a high-profile moment for athlete recognition as preparations intensify.
Organizers said the announcement will be structured to allow media to capture both the official remarks and athlete reaction, while also providing additional access following the formal program.
“Following the Team Announcement, the athletes will also be available to sign autographs and meet with store guests,” they said.
The inclusion of autograph and meet-and-greet opportunities reflects the growing emphasis on athlete visibility and fan engagement around Olympic sport. National sport organizations and the Canadian Olympic Committee have increasingly focused on creating touchpoints that connect high-performance athletes with the broader public, particularly in Olympic years when attention rises sharply.
The announcement also comes as Canadian winter sport programs continue to balance competitive ambitions with the business realities of preparing for an international multi-sport event. Olympic nominations can affect everything from travel planning and training schedules to commercial partnerships and athlete support services.
For Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton, which oversees both bobsleigh and skeleton disciplines, the nomination event is also a key moment in the organization’s annual calendar. Olympic years typically bring increased media exposure and sponsor interest, particularly for sports that deliver high-speed, broadcast-friendly competition and historically strong Canadian performances.
The Canadian Olympic Committee, meanwhile, uses nomination announcements as part of its broader rollout for the Games, reinforcing Team Canada branding and building momentum in the lead-up to Milano Cortina 2026.
The Calgary announcement will include remarks from Team Canada’s Chef de Mission for Milano Cortina 2026. The Chef de Mission role is central to Canada’s Olympic delegation, overseeing leadership and coordination across sports, supporting athletes and staff, and representing Team Canada within the broader Olympic environment.
While the organizations did not release additional details about the athletes to be nominated ahead of the event, the Wednesday morning announcement is expected to provide clarity on which skeleton competitors will be moving forward under the Team Canada banner.
Media are invited to attend the event, with organizers indicating that interviews, photo opportunities and b-roll will be available as part of the program. The announcement is set to take place in Calgary, one of Canada’s major winter sport hubs and a frequent site for national team activities.
With the nomination announcement now scheduled, the focus for athletes and program staff will shift further toward final preparation and performance planning for Milano Cortina 2026, including training, equipment readiness and international competition strategy in the months ahead.
The nomination event is set for Wednesday, Jan. 21 at 9:30 a.m. MT in Calgary.
