Tag: 3BL

Originally published by Mastercard

TORONTO, January 20, 2026 /3BL/ – Mastercard is shining a spotlight on Indigenous small businesses as part of the Toronto Maple Leafs Indigenous Celebration Game. In partnership with Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), Mastercard will transform a dedicated space at Real Sports Apparel at Scotiabank Arena into the inaugural The Indigenous Playmaker Marketplace presented by Mastercard. Limited-edition merchandise from Indigenous-owned small businesses will be available for purchase, starting on January 10 when the Toronto Maple Leafs take on the Vancouver Canucks, until January 21, 2026*.

Fans can support these Indigenous small businesses by purchasing the authentic and meaningful products they created exclusively for the marketplace, as all sales go directly back to their businesses.

Get to know the Indigenous Playmakers:

1. aaniin: An Indigenous retailer, founded by Chelsee Pettit in Tkaronto in 2021 with a mission to initiate conversations on native languages by incorporating Indigenous Syllabics into aaniin designs, created a custom tote bag for fans.
2. FOR4GED Candle Company: With a desire to share traditional knowledge and promote balance and wellness for all, founder Taylor Parker makes hand-poured candles, blended with traditional Haudenosaunee ingredients, and created a special-edition scent for this marketplace.
3. Kokom Scrunchies: A family-run Indigenous business founded in 2019 by Mya Beaudry, an Algonquin youth from Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation, and her mother Marcie Beaudry, the duo created a special edition scrunchie pack.
4. MINI TIPI: Co-founded in 2016 by Trisha Pitura, a member of Nipissing First Nation, and Melanie Bernard, from Quebec City of settler descent, they aim to address the lack of authentic Indigenous designs in the textile industry and created a custom blanket for fans.

As a long-standing champion of small business, Mastercard is committed to helping small-business owners, including Indigenous entrepreneurs, grow by providing opportunities and resources that can help them scale. Through digital enablement, cybersecurity educational tools, access to funding, mentorship and community building, these resources are designed to help small businesses achieve their business goals wherever they are in their journey.

“Indigenous small businesses play a crucial role in strengthening our local economies and it’s important to create opportunities for Indigenous entrepreneurs to showcase their talent and share their culture,” said Shawna Miller, senior vice president, Marketing & Communications at Mastercard  Canada. “We’re honoured to partner with MLSE and an inspiring group of Indigenous small business owners to showcase their work, grow their audience and ultimately help empower their journey toward sustained business success.”

As presenting partner of the Maple Leafs Indigenous Celebration Game, Mastercard will bring fans into the experience alongside the team to further support the Indigenous community, and more specifically, the Indigenous small business community. Fans attending the game can expect to see a ceremonial flag designed by Indigenous artist Jennifer Taback carried through the arena by fans in a shared ritual that symbolizes unity, respect and the power of community. In addition, a live Indigenous drum circle performance from Smoke Trail Singers Drum Group will take place on ice that will turn the entire arena into a living rhythm of culture and connection. Stories of Indigenous small business owners will also be featured on the in-arena videoboard to celebrate resilience and amplify Indigenous voices.

“The Maple Leafs’ annual Indigenous Celebration Night is an opportunity to amplify, honour and celebrate Indigenous cultures, and collaborating with partners who share this commitment helps elevate the experience to new heights,” said Jordan Vader, senior vice president, Global Partnerships, MLSE. “Together with Mastercard, we look forward to debuting The Indigenous Playmaker Marketplace and give fans a new, unique avenue to support Indigenous small businesses while cheering on their favourite team.”

“Indigenous businesses are full of incredible creativity, craftsmanship, and culture,” said Chelsee Pettit, founder of aaniin. “The Indigenous Playmaker Marketplace not only helps grow my business—it’s showcasing the stories, traditions, and perspectives that make Indigenous entrepreneurship so unique. I’m proud to be part of something that uplifts the entire community and showcases the amazing talent of so many Indigenous small businesses.”

Learn more about how Mastercard supports all small businesses in Canada here.

*The Indigenous Playmaker Marketplace will be open in Real Sports Apparel on January 10, 13, 14, 15, 19, 20 and 21.

Media contact
Helena Wade, Mastercard, Canada
helena.wade@mastercard.com

About Mastercard

Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re building a resilient economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

www.mastercard.com

Continue reading here

Follow along Mastercard’s journey to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere.

Originally published by Mastercard

TORONTO, January 20, 2026 /3BL/ – Mastercard is shining a spotlight on Indigenous small businesses as part of the Toronto Maple Leafs Indigenous Celebration Game. In partnership with Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), Mastercard will transform a dedicated space at Real Sports Apparel at Scotiabank Arena into the inaugural The Indigenous Playmaker Marketplace presented by Mastercard. Limited-edition merchandise from Indigenous-owned small businesses will be available for purchase, starting on January 10 when the Toronto Maple Leafs take on the Vancouver Canucks, until January 21, 2026*.

Fans can support these Indigenous small businesses by purchasing the authentic and meaningful products they created exclusively for the marketplace, as all sales go directly back to their businesses.

Get to know the Indigenous Playmakers:

1. aaniin: An Indigenous retailer, founded by Chelsee Pettit in Tkaronto in 2021 with a mission to initiate conversations on native languages by incorporating Indigenous Syllabics into aaniin designs, created a custom tote bag for fans.
2. FOR4GED Candle Company: With a desire to share traditional knowledge and promote balance and wellness for all, founder Taylor Parker makes hand-poured candles, blended with traditional Haudenosaunee ingredients, and created a special-edition scent for this marketplace.
3. Kokom Scrunchies: A family-run Indigenous business founded in 2019 by Mya Beaudry, an Algonquin youth from Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation, and her mother Marcie Beaudry, the duo created a special edition scrunchie pack.
4. MINI TIPI: Co-founded in 2016 by Trisha Pitura, a member of Nipissing First Nation, and Melanie Bernard, from Quebec City of settler descent, they aim to address the lack of authentic Indigenous designs in the textile industry and created a custom blanket for fans.

As a long-standing champion of small business, Mastercard is committed to helping small-business owners, including Indigenous entrepreneurs, grow by providing opportunities and resources that can help them scale. Through digital enablement, cybersecurity educational tools, access to funding, mentorship and community building, these resources are designed to help small businesses achieve their business goals wherever they are in their journey.

“Indigenous small businesses play a crucial role in strengthening our local economies and it’s important to create opportunities for Indigenous entrepreneurs to showcase their talent and share their culture,” said Shawna Miller, senior vice president, Marketing & Communications at Mastercard  Canada. “We’re honoured to partner with MLSE and an inspiring group of Indigenous small business owners to showcase their work, grow their audience and ultimately help empower their journey toward sustained business success.”

As presenting partner of the Maple Leafs Indigenous Celebration Game, Mastercard will bring fans into the experience alongside the team to further support the Indigenous community, and more specifically, the Indigenous small business community. Fans attending the game can expect to see a ceremonial flag designed by Indigenous artist Jennifer Taback carried through the arena by fans in a shared ritual that symbolizes unity, respect and the power of community. In addition, a live Indigenous drum circle performance from Smoke Trail Singers Drum Group will take place on ice that will turn the entire arena into a living rhythm of culture and connection. Stories of Indigenous small business owners will also be featured on the in-arena videoboard to celebrate resilience and amplify Indigenous voices.

“The Maple Leafs’ annual Indigenous Celebration Night is an opportunity to amplify, honour and celebrate Indigenous cultures, and collaborating with partners who share this commitment helps elevate the experience to new heights,” said Jordan Vader, senior vice president, Global Partnerships, MLSE. “Together with Mastercard, we look forward to debuting The Indigenous Playmaker Marketplace and give fans a new, unique avenue to support Indigenous small businesses while cheering on their favourite team.”

“Indigenous businesses are full of incredible creativity, craftsmanship, and culture,” said Chelsee Pettit, founder of aaniin. “The Indigenous Playmaker Marketplace not only helps grow my business—it’s showcasing the stories, traditions, and perspectives that make Indigenous entrepreneurship so unique. I’m proud to be part of something that uplifts the entire community and showcases the amazing talent of so many Indigenous small businesses.”

Learn more about how Mastercard supports all small businesses in Canada here.

*The Indigenous Playmaker Marketplace will be open in Real Sports Apparel on January 10, 13, 14, 15, 19, 20 and 21.

Media contact
Helena Wade, Mastercard, Canada
helena.wade@mastercard.com

About Mastercard

Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re building a resilient economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

www.mastercard.com

Continue reading here

Follow along Mastercard’s journey to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere.

Originally published by Mastercard

TORONTO, January 20, 2026 /3BL/ – Mastercard is shining a spotlight on Indigenous small businesses as part of the Toronto Maple Leafs Indigenous Celebration Game. In partnership with Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), Mastercard will transform a dedicated space at Real Sports Apparel at Scotiabank Arena into the inaugural The Indigenous Playmaker Marketplace presented by Mastercard. Limited-edition merchandise from Indigenous-owned small businesses will be available for purchase, starting on January 10 when the Toronto Maple Leafs take on the Vancouver Canucks, until January 21, 2026*.

Fans can support these Indigenous small businesses by purchasing the authentic and meaningful products they created exclusively for the marketplace, as all sales go directly back to their businesses.

Get to know the Indigenous Playmakers:

1. aaniin: An Indigenous retailer, founded by Chelsee Pettit in Tkaronto in 2021 with a mission to initiate conversations on native languages by incorporating Indigenous Syllabics into aaniin designs, created a custom tote bag for fans.
2. FOR4GED Candle Company: With a desire to share traditional knowledge and promote balance and wellness for all, founder Taylor Parker makes hand-poured candles, blended with traditional Haudenosaunee ingredients, and created a special-edition scent for this marketplace.
3. Kokom Scrunchies: A family-run Indigenous business founded in 2019 by Mya Beaudry, an Algonquin youth from Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation, and her mother Marcie Beaudry, the duo created a special edition scrunchie pack.
4. MINI TIPI: Co-founded in 2016 by Trisha Pitura, a member of Nipissing First Nation, and Melanie Bernard, from Quebec City of settler descent, they aim to address the lack of authentic Indigenous designs in the textile industry and created a custom blanket for fans.

As a long-standing champion of small business, Mastercard is committed to helping small-business owners, including Indigenous entrepreneurs, grow by providing opportunities and resources that can help them scale. Through digital enablement, cybersecurity educational tools, access to funding, mentorship and community building, these resources are designed to help small businesses achieve their business goals wherever they are in their journey.

“Indigenous small businesses play a crucial role in strengthening our local economies and it’s important to create opportunities for Indigenous entrepreneurs to showcase their talent and share their culture,” said Shawna Miller, senior vice president, Marketing & Communications at Mastercard  Canada. “We’re honoured to partner with MLSE and an inspiring group of Indigenous small business owners to showcase their work, grow their audience and ultimately help empower their journey toward sustained business success.”

As presenting partner of the Maple Leafs Indigenous Celebration Game, Mastercard will bring fans into the experience alongside the team to further support the Indigenous community, and more specifically, the Indigenous small business community. Fans attending the game can expect to see a ceremonial flag designed by Indigenous artist Jennifer Taback carried through the arena by fans in a shared ritual that symbolizes unity, respect and the power of community. In addition, a live Indigenous drum circle performance from Smoke Trail Singers Drum Group will take place on ice that will turn the entire arena into a living rhythm of culture and connection. Stories of Indigenous small business owners will also be featured on the in-arena videoboard to celebrate resilience and amplify Indigenous voices.

“The Maple Leafs’ annual Indigenous Celebration Night is an opportunity to amplify, honour and celebrate Indigenous cultures, and collaborating with partners who share this commitment helps elevate the experience to new heights,” said Jordan Vader, senior vice president, Global Partnerships, MLSE. “Together with Mastercard, we look forward to debuting The Indigenous Playmaker Marketplace and give fans a new, unique avenue to support Indigenous small businesses while cheering on their favourite team.”

“Indigenous businesses are full of incredible creativity, craftsmanship, and culture,” said Chelsee Pettit, founder of aaniin. “The Indigenous Playmaker Marketplace not only helps grow my business—it’s showcasing the stories, traditions, and perspectives that make Indigenous entrepreneurship so unique. I’m proud to be part of something that uplifts the entire community and showcases the amazing talent of so many Indigenous small businesses.”

Learn more about how Mastercard supports all small businesses in Canada here.

*The Indigenous Playmaker Marketplace will be open in Real Sports Apparel on January 10, 13, 14, 15, 19, 20 and 21.

Media contact
Helena Wade, Mastercard, Canada
helena.wade@mastercard.com

About Mastercard

Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re building a resilient economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

www.mastercard.com

Continue reading here

Follow along Mastercard’s journey to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere.

International Olympic Committee news

The Games’ organisers are making the best use of the world-class venues already woven into the landscape, across Northern Italy’s cities, valleys and Alpine towns. The Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Villages follow the same mode, redefining the concept of Olympic living: from Milan’s city centre through to Cortina’s Dolomite valleys and Livigno’s high-altitude borderlands, the decentralised Games won’t have a single campus. Instead, six Olympic Villages will seamlessly adapt to their surroundings: some developed through new constructions, renovations or temporary structures; others hosted within existing hotels, transforming them into fully integrated Village environments. Together, the Villages form a network rooted in the character and unique needs of each host community.

Key facts:

• Milano Cortina 2026 will have six Olympic Villages across Northern Italy – in Milan, Livigno, Bormio, Predazzo, Anterselva and Cortina – combining new, temporary and existing facilities tailored to local contexts.
• Each location is designed to make the most of existing or temporary structures, minimising new construction and adapting to local needs, while ensuring all athletes can enjoy the full Olympic experience.
• The newly built Milano Olympic Village, located in the Porta Romana district, will become a permanent student neighbourhood, while other sites will return to tourism or open space, reflecting a focus on reuse and lasting local value.

The geography of Northern Italy makes this approach both logical and necessary. Venues are spread between Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo and the Alpine valleys of Lombardy, Trentino and South Tyrol, linked by a carefully planned network. With Olympic Villages in Milan, Cortina, Livigno, Bormio, Predazzo and Anterselva, no athlete is too far from their competition site.

At the same time, efforts have been made to ensure all athletes can enjoy the full Olympic experience. Milan Cortina 2026 will be the first edition of the Winter Games with a multi-centred model. The Opening Ceremony will also reflect the Games’ multi-centred model: thanks to an innovative and inclusive project, all athletes will be able to participate in a shared experience between Milan, Cortina, Valtellina and Val di Fiemme. As a result of this approach, more athletes than ever before will have the possibility to take part in the Opening Ceremony and be part of the parade of their delegation.

Olympic Villages have always reflected their time – from wooden huts in 1924 to lasting community neighbourhoods today. Each edition tells a story about the context and ambitions of its hosts. Milano Cortina 2026 continues this evolution, showing that housing athletes is about more than logistics – it’s about creating lasting value for local people.

Marie Sallois IOC Director for Sustainability

Milan – Porta Romana’s urban reinvention

In the southeast of the city, the abandoned Porta Romana railway yard is being reborn as the Milan Olympic and Paralympic Village. Once a tangle of sidings and warehouses, the site is now home to six new residential blocks with pale façades and clean, geometric lines, set around tree-lined courtyards, alongside two restored brick depots that preserve the site’s industrial character.

During the Games, it will accommodate about 1,500 residents. After the Games, it will be converted into a vibrant neighbourhood offering 1,700 student beds, including subsidised accommodation, interwoven with cafés, shops and green spaces.

The project is part of Milan’s long-term regeneration plan, stitching an industrial scar into the urban fabric. Sustainability is embedded throughout: the Village is targeting LEED Gold certification through rooftop solar panels, rainwater reuse systems, heat pumps and low-carbon materials. The Village Plaza, a wide, pedestrian square framed by the new buildings, will become a public space for markets and community life after the Games.

Cortina – A Temporary Solution in the Dolomites

Cortina d’Ampezzo, the “Queen of the Dolomites” and host of the 1956 Games, will once again welcome the world. Its 2026 Olympic Village, located in Fiames just north of the town, is purposefully temporary: a modular complex built from mobile, prefabricated units. About 377 of these compact wooden-clad homes, each about the size of a small apartment and equipped with modern climate control and ergonomic furnishings, will be arranged in orderly rows, connected by walkways and plazas. The result is a pop-up Alpine town for 1,400 residents, set against the dramatic backdrop of the Pomagagnon and Tofane peaks.

During the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Village will function as a compact community with dining halls and shared recreation spaces. Then, it will be dismantled, returning the land to open space.

Livigno – adapted Alpine lodges

High in the Alps near the Swiss border, Livigno is renowned worldwide as a hub for freestyle and snowboard sports. Instead of building a new facility, three traditional Alpine lodges with timber balconies and pitched roofs will be adapted to host athletes just steps from the slopes. After the Games, these lodges will return to Livigno’s vibrant hospitality sector, avoiding new construction while strengthening the town’s established tourism economy.

Bormio – historic ski resort welcomes Olympians

Further west, Bormio will welcome athletes in existing hotels, located close to the Alpine skiing venues. This approach allows the resort to make the most of its existing infrastructure while ensuring athletes stay close to their competition sites.

Anterselva – hotels accommodate athletes

In Anterselva, world-renowned for biathlon, athletes will be accommodated in existing hotels. After the Games, they will return to regular tourism, embodying the same principle of adaptation and reuse that defines Milano Cortina 2026.

Predazzo – existing facilities upgraded for the Games

In Predazzo, within the Val di Fiemme cluster, an existing facility is being renovated to accommodate athletes and officials, including those competing in Tesero. It combines modernisation with respect for the town’s character and heritage.

International Olympic Committee news

The Games’ organisers are making the best use of the world-class venues already woven into the landscape, across Northern Italy’s cities, valleys and Alpine towns. The Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Villages follow the same mode, redefining the concept of Olympic living: from Milan’s city centre through to Cortina’s Dolomite valleys and Livigno’s high-altitude borderlands, the decentralised Games won’t have a single campus. Instead, six Olympic Villages will seamlessly adapt to their surroundings: some developed through new constructions, renovations or temporary structures; others hosted within existing hotels, transforming them into fully integrated Village environments. Together, the Villages form a network rooted in the character and unique needs of each host community.

Key facts:

• Milano Cortina 2026 will have six Olympic Villages across Northern Italy – in Milan, Livigno, Bormio, Predazzo, Anterselva and Cortina – combining new, temporary and existing facilities tailored to local contexts.
• Each location is designed to make the most of existing or temporary structures, minimising new construction and adapting to local needs, while ensuring all athletes can enjoy the full Olympic experience.
• The newly built Milano Olympic Village, located in the Porta Romana district, will become a permanent student neighbourhood, while other sites will return to tourism or open space, reflecting a focus on reuse and lasting local value.

The geography of Northern Italy makes this approach both logical and necessary. Venues are spread between Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo and the Alpine valleys of Lombardy, Trentino and South Tyrol, linked by a carefully planned network. With Olympic Villages in Milan, Cortina, Livigno, Bormio, Predazzo and Anterselva, no athlete is too far from their competition site.

At the same time, efforts have been made to ensure all athletes can enjoy the full Olympic experience. Milan Cortina 2026 will be the first edition of the Winter Games with a multi-centred model. The Opening Ceremony will also reflect the Games’ multi-centred model: thanks to an innovative and inclusive project, all athletes will be able to participate in a shared experience between Milan, Cortina, Valtellina and Val di Fiemme. As a result of this approach, more athletes than ever before will have the possibility to take part in the Opening Ceremony and be part of the parade of their delegation.

Olympic Villages have always reflected their time – from wooden huts in 1924 to lasting community neighbourhoods today. Each edition tells a story about the context and ambitions of its hosts. Milano Cortina 2026 continues this evolution, showing that housing athletes is about more than logistics – it’s about creating lasting value for local people.

Marie Sallois IOC Director for Sustainability

Milan – Porta Romana’s urban reinvention

In the southeast of the city, the abandoned Porta Romana railway yard is being reborn as the Milan Olympic and Paralympic Village. Once a tangle of sidings and warehouses, the site is now home to six new residential blocks with pale façades and clean, geometric lines, set around tree-lined courtyards, alongside two restored brick depots that preserve the site’s industrial character.

During the Games, it will accommodate about 1,500 residents. After the Games, it will be converted into a vibrant neighbourhood offering 1,700 student beds, including subsidised accommodation, interwoven with cafés, shops and green spaces.

The project is part of Milan’s long-term regeneration plan, stitching an industrial scar into the urban fabric. Sustainability is embedded throughout: the Village is targeting LEED Gold certification through rooftop solar panels, rainwater reuse systems, heat pumps and low-carbon materials. The Village Plaza, a wide, pedestrian square framed by the new buildings, will become a public space for markets and community life after the Games.

Cortina – A Temporary Solution in the Dolomites

Cortina d’Ampezzo, the “Queen of the Dolomites” and host of the 1956 Games, will once again welcome the world. Its 2026 Olympic Village, located in Fiames just north of the town, is purposefully temporary: a modular complex built from mobile, prefabricated units. About 377 of these compact wooden-clad homes, each about the size of a small apartment and equipped with modern climate control and ergonomic furnishings, will be arranged in orderly rows, connected by walkways and plazas. The result is a pop-up Alpine town for 1,400 residents, set against the dramatic backdrop of the Pomagagnon and Tofane peaks.

During the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Village will function as a compact community with dining halls and shared recreation spaces. Then, it will be dismantled, returning the land to open space.

Livigno – adapted Alpine lodges

High in the Alps near the Swiss border, Livigno is renowned worldwide as a hub for freestyle and snowboard sports. Instead of building a new facility, three traditional Alpine lodges with timber balconies and pitched roofs will be adapted to host athletes just steps from the slopes. After the Games, these lodges will return to Livigno’s vibrant hospitality sector, avoiding new construction while strengthening the town’s established tourism economy.

Bormio – historic ski resort welcomes Olympians

Further west, Bormio will welcome athletes in existing hotels, located close to the Alpine skiing venues. This approach allows the resort to make the most of its existing infrastructure while ensuring athletes stay close to their competition sites.

Anterselva – hotels accommodate athletes

In Anterselva, world-renowned for biathlon, athletes will be accommodated in existing hotels. After the Games, they will return to regular tourism, embodying the same principle of adaptation and reuse that defines Milano Cortina 2026.

Predazzo – existing facilities upgraded for the Games

In Predazzo, within the Val di Fiemme cluster, an existing facility is being renovated to accommodate athletes and officials, including those competing in Tesero. It combines modernisation with respect for the town’s character and heritage.

International Olympic Committee news

The Games’ organisers are making the best use of the world-class venues already woven into the landscape, across Northern Italy’s cities, valleys and Alpine towns. The Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Villages follow the same mode, redefining the concept of Olympic living: from Milan’s city centre through to Cortina’s Dolomite valleys and Livigno’s high-altitude borderlands, the decentralised Games won’t have a single campus. Instead, six Olympic Villages will seamlessly adapt to their surroundings: some developed through new constructions, renovations or temporary structures; others hosted within existing hotels, transforming them into fully integrated Village environments. Together, the Villages form a network rooted in the character and unique needs of each host community.

Key facts:

• Milano Cortina 2026 will have six Olympic Villages across Northern Italy – in Milan, Livigno, Bormio, Predazzo, Anterselva and Cortina – combining new, temporary and existing facilities tailored to local contexts.
• Each location is designed to make the most of existing or temporary structures, minimising new construction and adapting to local needs, while ensuring all athletes can enjoy the full Olympic experience.
• The newly built Milano Olympic Village, located in the Porta Romana district, will become a permanent student neighbourhood, while other sites will return to tourism or open space, reflecting a focus on reuse and lasting local value.

The geography of Northern Italy makes this approach both logical and necessary. Venues are spread between Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo and the Alpine valleys of Lombardy, Trentino and South Tyrol, linked by a carefully planned network. With Olympic Villages in Milan, Cortina, Livigno, Bormio, Predazzo and Anterselva, no athlete is too far from their competition site.

At the same time, efforts have been made to ensure all athletes can enjoy the full Olympic experience. Milan Cortina 2026 will be the first edition of the Winter Games with a multi-centred model. The Opening Ceremony will also reflect the Games’ multi-centred model: thanks to an innovative and inclusive project, all athletes will be able to participate in a shared experience between Milan, Cortina, Valtellina and Val di Fiemme. As a result of this approach, more athletes than ever before will have the possibility to take part in the Opening Ceremony and be part of the parade of their delegation.

Olympic Villages have always reflected their time – from wooden huts in 1924 to lasting community neighbourhoods today. Each edition tells a story about the context and ambitions of its hosts. Milano Cortina 2026 continues this evolution, showing that housing athletes is about more than logistics – it’s about creating lasting value for local people.

Marie Sallois IOC Director for Sustainability

Milan – Porta Romana’s urban reinvention

In the southeast of the city, the abandoned Porta Romana railway yard is being reborn as the Milan Olympic and Paralympic Village. Once a tangle of sidings and warehouses, the site is now home to six new residential blocks with pale façades and clean, geometric lines, set around tree-lined courtyards, alongside two restored brick depots that preserve the site’s industrial character.

During the Games, it will accommodate about 1,500 residents. After the Games, it will be converted into a vibrant neighbourhood offering 1,700 student beds, including subsidised accommodation, interwoven with cafés, shops and green spaces.

The project is part of Milan’s long-term regeneration plan, stitching an industrial scar into the urban fabric. Sustainability is embedded throughout: the Village is targeting LEED Gold certification through rooftop solar panels, rainwater reuse systems, heat pumps and low-carbon materials. The Village Plaza, a wide, pedestrian square framed by the new buildings, will become a public space for markets and community life after the Games.

Cortina – A Temporary Solution in the Dolomites

Cortina d’Ampezzo, the “Queen of the Dolomites” and host of the 1956 Games, will once again welcome the world. Its 2026 Olympic Village, located in Fiames just north of the town, is purposefully temporary: a modular complex built from mobile, prefabricated units. About 377 of these compact wooden-clad homes, each about the size of a small apartment and equipped with modern climate control and ergonomic furnishings, will be arranged in orderly rows, connected by walkways and plazas. The result is a pop-up Alpine town for 1,400 residents, set against the dramatic backdrop of the Pomagagnon and Tofane peaks.

During the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Village will function as a compact community with dining halls and shared recreation spaces. Then, it will be dismantled, returning the land to open space.

Livigno – adapted Alpine lodges

High in the Alps near the Swiss border, Livigno is renowned worldwide as a hub for freestyle and snowboard sports. Instead of building a new facility, three traditional Alpine lodges with timber balconies and pitched roofs will be adapted to host athletes just steps from the slopes. After the Games, these lodges will return to Livigno’s vibrant hospitality sector, avoiding new construction while strengthening the town’s established tourism economy.

Bormio – historic ski resort welcomes Olympians

Further west, Bormio will welcome athletes in existing hotels, located close to the Alpine skiing venues. This approach allows the resort to make the most of its existing infrastructure while ensuring athletes stay close to their competition sites.

Anterselva – hotels accommodate athletes

In Anterselva, world-renowned for biathlon, athletes will be accommodated in existing hotels. After the Games, they will return to regular tourism, embodying the same principle of adaptation and reuse that defines Milano Cortina 2026.

Predazzo – existing facilities upgraded for the Games

In Predazzo, within the Val di Fiemme cluster, an existing facility is being renovated to accommodate athletes and officials, including those competing in Tesero. It combines modernisation with respect for the town’s character and heritage.

EMERYVILLE, Calif., January 20, 2026 /3BL/ – SCS Standards and Assurance Systems is pleased to announce the publication of Version 5.0 SCS-106 Verification Standard for Recycling Operations, previously known as the SCS Recycling Program Standard SCS-106.

The standard has been restructured and simplified, and now looks at the previous 12 months of data of a recycling operation to verify that a recycling facility is diverting waste from landfill, incineration, or permanent storage by processing waste into recycled material.

SCS-106 fits into the larger ecosystem of SCS Standards’ circularity standards, complementing the SCS Certification Standard for Zero Waste (SCS-110), the SCS Certification Standard for Recycled Content (SCS-103), and the upcoming SCS Certification Standard for Responsible Advanced/Chemical/Molecular Recycling (SCS-004).

To learn more about SCS-106, please join our complimentary webinar on Friday, February 20th, at 11:30 a.m. ET (8:30 a.m. PT, 10:30 a.m. CET). Register here to learn about SCS-106, including the revisions and certification process.

To download a copy of SCS-106, visit the SCS Standards Website: Verification Standard for Recycling Operations | SCS Standards

For SCS-106 Certification Services, please visit the SCS Global Services Website: Recycled Content Certification | SCS Global Services

About SCS Standards

SCS Standards and Assurance Systems is an organization committed to the development of standards that advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Standards are developed in alignment with best practices and guidelines provided by internationally recognized bodies to ensure a robust, transparent, and collaborative approach. SCS Standards is the official standards development body for Scientific Certification Systems, Inc. For more information, visit www.SCSstandards.org.

Media Contact

Victoria Norman
Executive Director
Send an email

EMERYVILLE, Calif., January 20, 2026 /3BL/ – SCS Standards and Assurance Systems is pleased to announce the publication of Version 5.0 SCS-106 Verification Standard for Recycling Operations, previously known as the SCS Recycling Program Standard SCS-106.

The standard has been restructured and simplified, and now looks at the previous 12 months of data of a recycling operation to verify that a recycling facility is diverting waste from landfill, incineration, or permanent storage by processing waste into recycled material.

SCS-106 fits into the larger ecosystem of SCS Standards’ circularity standards, complementing the SCS Certification Standard for Zero Waste (SCS-110), the SCS Certification Standard for Recycled Content (SCS-103), and the upcoming SCS Certification Standard for Responsible Advanced/Chemical/Molecular Recycling (SCS-004).

To learn more about SCS-106, please join our complimentary webinar on Friday, February 20th, at 11:30 a.m. ET (8:30 a.m. PT, 10:30 a.m. CET). Register here to learn about SCS-106, including the revisions and certification process.

To download a copy of SCS-106, visit the SCS Standards Website: Verification Standard for Recycling Operations | SCS Standards

For SCS-106 Certification Services, please visit the SCS Global Services Website: Recycled Content Certification | SCS Global Services

About SCS Standards

SCS Standards and Assurance Systems is an organization committed to the development of standards that advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Standards are developed in alignment with best practices and guidelines provided by internationally recognized bodies to ensure a robust, transparent, and collaborative approach. SCS Standards is the official standards development body for Scientific Certification Systems, Inc. For more information, visit www.SCSstandards.org.

Media Contact

Victoria Norman
Executive Director
Send an email

EMERYVILLE, Calif., January 20, 2026 /3BL/ – SCS Standards and Assurance Systems is pleased to announce the publication of Version 5.0 SCS-106 Verification Standard for Recycling Operations, previously known as the SCS Recycling Program Standard SCS-106.

The standard has been restructured and simplified, and now looks at the previous 12 months of data of a recycling operation to verify that a recycling facility is diverting waste from landfill, incineration, or permanent storage by processing waste into recycled material.

SCS-106 fits into the larger ecosystem of SCS Standards’ circularity standards, complementing the SCS Certification Standard for Zero Waste (SCS-110), the SCS Certification Standard for Recycled Content (SCS-103), and the upcoming SCS Certification Standard for Responsible Advanced/Chemical/Molecular Recycling (SCS-004).

To learn more about SCS-106, please join our complimentary webinar on Friday, February 20th, at 11:30 a.m. ET (8:30 a.m. PT, 10:30 a.m. CET). Register here to learn about SCS-106, including the revisions and certification process.

To download a copy of SCS-106, visit the SCS Standards Website: Verification Standard for Recycling Operations | SCS Standards

For SCS-106 Certification Services, please visit the SCS Global Services Website: Recycled Content Certification | SCS Global Services

About SCS Standards

SCS Standards and Assurance Systems is an organization committed to the development of standards that advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Standards are developed in alignment with best practices and guidelines provided by internationally recognized bodies to ensure a robust, transparent, and collaborative approach. SCS Standards is the official standards development body for Scientific Certification Systems, Inc. For more information, visit www.SCSstandards.org.

Media Contact

Victoria Norman
Executive Director
Send an email

ST. PAUL, Minn., January 20, 2026 /3BL/ – The Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable (BIER) is pleased to announce that Kirin Holdings C ompany has joined its global coalition of leading beverage companies working collaboratively to advance environmental sustainability across the beverage sector.

Headquartered in Japan, Kirin Holdings Company brings more than a century of innovation and stewardship to BIER’s collaborative platform. Since its founding in 1907, the Kirin Group has evolved from its origins in brewing to become a diversified global company spanning Food & Beverages, Pharmaceuticals, and Health Science. Across its businesses, Kirin leverages fermentation and biotechnology to deliver products and services that enhance quality of life while addressing pressing social and environmental challenges.

Kirin’s environmental strategy is guided by a strong commitment to reducing environmental impact across its value chain. The company prioritizes climate action, responsible water stewardship, resource efficiency, and the sustainable procurement of raw materials. Through its environmental materiality framework, Kirin is advancing efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, strengthen water resource management, minimize waste, and promote circular approaches to packaging and production.

In parallel, Kirin places a strong emphasis on sustainable supply chains, working closely with suppliers to address environmental and social risks, promote responsible sourcing, and enhance transparency. These efforts reflect Kirin’s belief that long-term business resilience depends on collaboration across industries, regions, and value chains.

The addition of Kirin’s membership in BIER further supports these commitments by providing a collaborative forum for exchanging best practices, aligning methodologies, and engaging with peers on shared environmental priorities. Through BIER, Kirin will contribute to and benefit from collective efforts focused on water stewardship, climate action, sustainability disclosure, circular systems, and nature-positive strategies, helping accelerate progress across the global beverage industry.

“BIER is built on the principle that meaningful environmental progress happens when companies work together,” said Erica Pann, Executive Director of BIER. “Kirin’s long-standing commitment to sustainability, innovation, and responsible supply chain management strengthens our collective ability to address complex environmental challenges facing the beverage sector.”

Through the market leadership of its members, BIER continues to serve as a trusted, collaborative voice for environmental sustainability in the beverage industry. By advancing credible technical guidance, fostering cross-sector collaboration, and engaging proactively on emerging challenges, BIER helps its members strengthen performance, build stakeholder trust, and contribute to more sustainable outcomes across the value chain.

Media Contacts:

Erica Pann, Executive Director, BIER – Erica.Pann@anteagroup.us

About BIER
BIER is a technical coalition of leading global beverage companies working together to advance environmental sustainability within the beverage sector. Formed in 2006, BIER is a common voice across the beverage sector, speaking to influence global standards on environmental sustainability aspects most relevant to the sector, affect change both up and down the supply chain, and share best practices that raise the bar for environmental performance of the industry. By doing so, BIER is able to monitor data and trends, engage with key stakeholders, develop best practices, and guide a course of action for the future. BIER members include Anheuser-Busch InBev, Asahi Group Holdings, Bacardi, Brown-Forman, Carlsberg Group, The Coca-Cola Company, Constellation Brands, Diageo, Heaven Hill Brands, Heineken, Keurig Dr Pepper, Kirin Holdings Company, Limited, Molson Coors, Monster Energy, Ocean Spray Cranberries, PepsiCo, Pernod Ricard and Suntory Global Spirits. For more information, visit www.bieroundtable.com.

About Kirin Holdings Company, Limited

Kirin Holdings Company, Limited is an international company that operates in the Food & Beverages domain (Food & Beverages businesses), Pharmaceuticals domain (Pharmaceuticals businesses), and Health Science domain (Health Science business), both in Japan and across the globe.

Kirin Holdings can trace its roots to Japan Brewery which was established in 1885. Japan Brewery became Kirin Brewery in 1907. Since then, the company expanded its business with fermentation and biotechnology as its core technologies, and entered the pharmaceutical business in the 1980s, all of which continue to be global growth centers. In 2007, Kirin Holdings was established as a pure holding company and is currently focusing on boosting its Health Science domain.

Under the Kirin Group Vision 2027 (KV 2027), a long-term management plan launched in 2019, the Kirin Group aims to become “A global leader in CSV* creating value across our world of Food & Beverages to Pharmaceuticals.” Going forward, the Kirin Group will continue to leverage its strengths to create both social and economic value through its businesses, with the aim of achieving sustainable growth in corporate value.

*　Creating Shared Value. Combined added value for consumers as well as for society at large.