IOC President Kirsty Coventry addressed a range of pressing issues at her Executive Board Meeting, including the ongoing debate surrounding gender eligibility in sports, the re-evaluation of sanctions against Russia, Belarus, and Indonesia, and preparations for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. Coventry emphasized the IOC's commitment to protecting the female category and finding a consensus solution, while also acknowledging the complexities of navigating political tensions and ensuring fair access to sport for all. Concerns regarding ice rink conditions at the Milano arena were dismissed by IOC officials, and ticket sales are nearing 70%. Future Summer Games host selection is also under review.

Organizers of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics face mounting challenges with the ice hockey venue, including construction delays and potential safety issues. The venue, Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena, is behind schedule, forcing relocation of test events. Concerns arise regarding the smaller rink size (60 meters by 26 meters) compared to NHL standards, potentially impacting player safety and game dynamics. Despite these issues, the NHL is expected to participate, and the International Ice Hockey Federation implemented mandatory neck guards. The timeline is tight, with the venue handover date uncertain, and no 'plan B' is available. The competition is scheduled for February 2026.

The 181 confirmed that neck guards will be mandatory for ice hockey players at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina. This decision, following recommendations from its Medical Committee, applies to all IIHF competitions. The rule, initially announced in 2023, aims to prevent serious injuries. The National Hockey League will mandate guards for new players from the 2026-27 season.

The phygital sports movement is gaining momentum, with the Games of the Future 2025 set to take place in Abu Dhabi, attracting thousands of athletes. This format, combining digital and physical competition, was conceptualized by Rene Fasel and is governed by Phygital International (PI). The World Phygital Community (WPC) oversees regional tournaments. The inaugural Games of the Future took place in 2024. The 2025 edition will be in Abu Dhabi, with Astana, Kazakhstan hosting in 2026. This comes as the IOC and Saudi Arabia mutually agreed to terminate the contract for the Olympic Esports Games. The WPC aims to reach 180 members by 2030, with a focus on integrating disciplines into schools and universities.

The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has launched a confidential reporting channel to enhance sports integrity and safety, allowing anonymous reporting of misconduct such as corruption, harassment, doping, and match manipulation. Reports are managed by an external platform and independent experts before reaching the ITTF Integrity Unit, ensuring impartiality and whistleblower protection. This initiative aligns ITTF with other federations like FIFA, World Athletics, World Rugby, IIHF and the IOC, who have seen success with similar systems, though challenges remain in transparency and follow-up.