FIFA president Gianni Infantino met ICC chairman Jay Shah on the sidelines of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan, which officially get underway on Friday. Infantino praised Shah for his role in taking cricket to new heights globally and extended his best wishes as the sport prepares to return to the Summer Olympics at Los Angeles 2028.

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Infantino shared a detailed message lauding Shah’s leadership at the ICC and expressed optimism about working together to “unite the world through sports.”

“It was my pleasure to meet ICC Chairman Jay Shah today in Milan,” Infantino said. “The outstanding work he has done to grow the beautiful game of cricket is exemplary. I wish him and everyone the very best as cricket gets reintroduced to the Summer Olympic Games in two years’ time.”

“I also look forward to working together and collaborating as we unite the world through sports,” he added.

Winter Olympics begin in Milan

The 2026 Winter Olympics will officially open on Friday, with qualifying events beginning earlier on Wednesday. The first set of medals will be awarded on Saturday, and the Games will conclude with the closing ceremony on February 22 at the Verona Olympic Arena.

For the first time in Winter Olympics history, the opening ceremony will be staged across multiple locations. The main celebrations will take place at Milan’s iconic San Siro Stadium, the 80,000-capacity home of AC Milan and Inter Milan. Additional events will be held in Predazzo, Livigno, and Cortina d’Ampezzo, allowing participating nations to parade closer to their respective competition venues.

The ceremony will also feature performances by leading Italian and international artists, including American pop star Mariah Carey, adding a strong entertainment element to the grand opening.