Eve Muirhead is spreading the love as the clock to the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games ticks ever closer.
With just one month to go until the Winter Olympics take over Italy, Beijing 2022 Olympic curling champion Eve Muirhead is opening the doors and giving us a sneak peek at what it takes to lead a delegation as Chef de Mission.
The fourth part in the Team GB series, get ready to go behind the scenes; welcome to Diary of a Chef: Part Four.
It's funny, I honestly don't think I've ever been able to enjoy a Christmas prior to an Olympic Games and I didn't see this one being any different to when I was an athlete. Of course I have a different role but you still have that expectation to perform when you get there. There are so many bits and bobs to do to get organised and it makes it difficult to switch off, but I did make sure I had some down time. Sport is one of those things in that you can't ever fully switch off because there are always things happening. But it is what I chose to do.
It's one month to go until the Opening Ceremony but it's a lot less time until I travel over and the environment really starts to take shape. It's still a big milestone to recognise though. For the athletes, this is when the butterflies really start kicking in and my job is to make sure that the athletes and the staff have what they need to perform. I will be making sure that everything we do is to help create a calm and comfortable environment for when they get there. There will be a lot of tetchy athletes and staff but that comes part in parcel with the Olympics when you have the weight of the world on your shoulders.
I was out in Cortina on a very successful recce when the first World Cups for skeleton and bobsleigh were taking part in November. We stayed in the same hotel that the HQ staff and some support staff will be in for the Games, so it was great to spend time with the athletes and watch them compete. It was about familiarising ourselves with the environment and how we think it will take shape, as well as travel times. To see Matt Weston get the gold and then another in the mixed team skeleton was great. Some of the other team members have been to Milan and then Livigno as well. We've been getting a lot out of these last visits.
Team GB have now officially announced their curling and ice skating teams for Milano Cortina 2026, with the rest of the team to follow in January. It marks a pivotal moment in the Olympic cycle as the delegation becomes officially complete, kits are handed out and athletes and staff finally make their way to Italy for the Games.
The next really exciting part for me is getting that full team announced. It has been coming in parts so far but that is what makes winter sport so exciting, these guys are still fighting for qualification and selection. Our enhanced standards are hard to hit this time for a lot of the sports and although we have quite a small team size, from around 50 to 55, we have such an immense amount of potential because of those standards. Everything is going great, so sports now just need to let the athletes do what they do best and perform.
The late timings do add a little bit of pressure for us though. From Kitting Out, announcements and other logistics, having things last minute does make it tough. We want to make sure that everyone has everything they need, like kit fitting and travel to and from the Games. Those are the small parts that we need to get right, especially for the athletes who are coming in the door very late. But I'm surrounded by pros and the team are so good at doing that.
The majority of us are heading out around January 27, so a good 10 days prior to the Opening Ceremony. It will be crucial for us to start transforming the Olympic Village into the whole 'home away from home' and Team GB feel, which they do so well. There are a lot of key deadlines that we need to hit from the Olympic Organising Committee as well as the official Delegation Registration Meeting. Then it's about making sure all the travelling staff and those back in the UK feel like they have everything and are ready to go in the last couple of months.
Muirhead will lead the British delegation between 6-22 February at Milano Cortina 2026, and is ready to spread the love across northern Italy as her time as Chef de Mission comes to its crux.
I'm seeing a lot of very excited people who are desperate to go to the Games which is fantastic. I am definitely going to try and see every sport if I can. It's really important that we do. With it being a very spread out Games we need to keep that 'One Team GB' ethos so no athlete feels like they are left out.
I am now making sure that we go into the Games recharged. We need to make sure we get that right in the lead up, whilst making sure that everyone can rely on and trust the team around them. The most challenging part for me right now is making sure I am across all the different moving parts and hitting the deadlines. I want to speak to everyone involved so I know that they have everything. I want to give everyone a bit of love.
Sportsbeat 2025