MILAN, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry on Thursday praised preparations for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, calling the Olympic Village and Milano Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena "impressive legacies" for the host city and country. The IOC delegation was welcomed by Milan-Cortina 2026 Organizing Committee President and IOC Member Giovanni Malago, CEO Andrea Varnier, and Italian Olympic stars Federica Pellegrini, Valentina Marchei and Marta Pagnini. Malago said the Olympic Village and arena will leave a lasting legacy. The Milan-Cortina 2026 Games, which begin Feb. 6, 2026, will feature six Olympic villages in Milan, Cortina, Predazzo, Bormio, Livigno and Anterselva. The Games will maximize use of existing venues to reduce the overall carbon footprint, in line with Olympic Agenda 2020 reforms.