A new position off the court has been assumed by Jannik Sinner, an ATP Tour powerhouse who won the US Open a few weeks ago: ambassador for Team26. He is the ideal representative of the volunteers who will enable the 2026 Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina because of his story, which is symbolised by the Alps.
There’s no slowing down Sinner’s ascent to the top of the tennis world. Following his victory in Flushing Meadows earlier in September and his tenacious defence of his top ranking, the Italian has decided to venture outside of the courts. He now excels both on and off the court, serving as the official promoter for the volunteer program for the 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, which will be hosted in his homeland.
Sinner was introduced as the face of Team26, an attempt to find the 18,000 volunteers needed for the next Games, at a Milanese event. Nor was it a haphazard decision. Skiing and tennis are in Sinner’s blood, having grown up in South Tyrol, one of the most gorgeous regions of Italy bordering Austria. During the presentation of the guide, the Italian admitted, “For me, skiing was like walking,” remembering his formative years spent in the mountains.
It’s easy to forget that Sinner was a phenomenon on the slopes for people who consider him to be a tennis superstar now. He won a national skiing championship at the age of eight, and at thirteen he decided to devote all of his energy to tennis. Because of his innate ability and unwavering dedication, he has reached the top of the sport today.
Sinner still values his winter sports and his heritage, though. He was proud to be a part of the 2026 Games and said, “It’s a great honour to represent these extraordinary disciplines,” with passion in his voice. If given the opportunity, I would adore carrying the Olympic torch. Sinner demonstrates with these remarks that his dedication isn’t merely symbolic but rather a sincere expression of his affinity for the Olympic ideal and his wish to make his mark on an occasion that will go down in Italian sports history.
Sinner’s leadership of the volunteer project is a brilliant move for the organisers of the Games. In addition to greeting competitors and spectators at various locations, volunteers will be responsible for making sure everything goes according to plan and contributing to a truly remarkable experience. And who could motivate those volunteers more than someone who has experienced the same rush of adrenaline when skiing?
While recovering from his spectacular tennis matches, the young tennis star is focussing on this new endeavour—a project that unmasks his true humanity in every manner—and won’t be competing in the Laver Cup, which is being hosted this weekend in Berlin.
