Olympic Officials Firmly Deny Norovirus Outbreak in Athletes' Village
International Olympic Committee officials have strongly downplayed concerns about a potential norovirus outbreak at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Games, despite confirmed cases affecting two women's hockey teams. Spokesperson Mark Adams emphasized that medical authorities see "absolutely no reason" to suspect the Finnish and Swiss team cases are related.
Separate Incidents, Not an Outbreak
Christophe Dubi, Olympic Games Executive Director, was unequivocal in his assessment: "One case on the Swiss team. Let's be very clear: No outbreak." This statement comes after Finland revealed earlier this week that the virus had swept through their team room, forcing the postponement of their tournament-opening game against Canada originally scheduled for Thursday night.
More than a dozen Finnish players were placed under quarantine as a precautionary measure, with their rescheduled game now set for February 12. The Swiss federation confirmed on Friday that one of their players had also been diagnosed with norovirus, though they emphasized this was an isolated case.
Games Proceed as Scheduled
Despite these health concerns, Olympic officials maintain that all events are proceeding according to plan. The Swiss women's team did not attend Friday night's Opening Ceremony as a precaution, and the affected Swiss player had been housed in isolation since arriving in the Olympic village.
"Today is happening as scheduled," Dubi told reporters. "These proper protocols really went well. Everyone: Let's not start to make a point about what is currently five athletes being dealt with."
Positive Progress and Future Outlook
Finland is scheduled to play the United States in women's hockey on Saturday afternoon in Milan, with officials expressing confidence in the situation. "All the indicators that we have from the team, Finland in particular, are going in the right direction," Dubi stated. "So, it's a proof point that what was scheduled in the plan was delivered as planned."
The Swiss federation issued a statement confirming their Saturday night game against Canada would proceed as planned, noting that no additional players had tested positive and the affected player had been symptom-free since Friday morning. This development suggests the containment measures implemented by Olympic health officials are proving effective.
Olympic organizers continue to monitor the situation closely while maintaining their position that there is no broader outbreak affecting the athletes' village or the Games overall. The emphasis remains on following established health protocols to ensure the safety of all participants while allowing competition to continue with minimal disruption.
