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Athletes at the Cortina Olympic and Paralympic Village on Tuesday chatted at an outdoor coffee stand, exchanged their unique national team badges and enjoyed the atmosphere of the Dolomites as the snow continued to fall.

The village is the temporary home for around 1400 athletes, coaches and team members during Milano Cortina 2026.

They live in 377 trailers in the Alpine Valley, a 10-minute drive from the center of Cortina. The second main Olympic village is located in Milan.

“It’s just such a fun environment to be in here, among so many other athletes,” said Cory Thiesse, US curler.

“We all live together, we train together, we eat together. Here we are literally at the foot of the mountains. It’s just a dream to wake up in the morning and see such mountains.”

Curling, women’s alpine skiing, bobsleigh, luge and skeleton are held in Cortina. The athletes decorated the outside of their mobile homes with flags and banners to show their team spirit, plus other reminders of home.

Team Canada placed a statue of a red moose in front of their accommodation to let others know it was their territory, and the woman coordinating team security cleared the freshly attacked snow from its back.

Each trailer is divided into two rooms, with a maximum of two people per room. The rooms are simple, with beds, shower and toilet. Half of the trailers are wheelchair accessible for the Paralympic Games to be held in March.

Nick Timmings, who competes in skeleton for Australia, settles into the room he shares with his coach. They are used to sharing space; his coach is also his twin brother.

“A lot of people were concerned beforehand about what was going to be in the trailers — whether there would be adequate heat and plumbing and things like that. But we got here and they’re warm. The plumbing seems to be working well,” Timmings said.

– I am very comfortable.

The village has a fitness center, recreation area, living room, dining room, massage rooms and prayer room.

Ukrainian luger Nazarii Kachmar said he likes to visit common areas to meet athletes from other countries. So far, he has spoken with athletes from Canada, Romania, the USA and Latvia.

The outdoor coffee stand is a popular gathering place. On Tuesday, the athletes talked while waiting for their cappuccinos and espressos. De Aundre John, a bobsledder from Trinidad and Tobago, noticed the American bobsledders and asked to exchange the national pins for their strings.

John said it was amazing to be in the village, fulfilling his lifelong goal of becoming an Olympian. Italian cuisine is just a bonus, he said, adding that his favorite so far is lasagna.

In the dining room, Swedish curling coach Alison Kreviazuk is delighted with the desserts, especially the cannoli.

Tuesday was cloudy, but on sunny days athletes can see the ski center as soon as they step out of their trailers, said Eva Lune Wiggelendum, who manages the village.

“We’re in a valley, so we’re surrounded by mountains,” she said.

“This is amazing. While you’re looking outside, it’s snowing. So we’re really creating a Winter Olympics atmosphere here.”