CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy — Standing on a tower overlooking the cliffs of the Cortina downhill course, there is someone who is just as involved in the biggest skiing races of the Winter Olympics as Mikaela Shiffrin and Breezy Johnson.
Drone pilot Martin Bochatay controls a drone, left, in front of the Olympia delle Tofane course, ahead of an alpine ski women's World Cup downhill race in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Jan. 26, 2024.
People are also reading…
A drone operator captures video ahead of an alpine ski men's super-G race at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Bormio, Italy, Feb. 11.
Drone pilot Jonas Sundal, from Canada, holds one of the drones being flown at the ski jumping venue during the 2026 Winter Olympics in Predazzo, Italy, Feb. 10.
A drone follows Philipp Raimund, of Germany, as he soars through the air during his first round jump of the ski jumping men's normal hill individual at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Predazzo, Italy, Feb. 9.
A drone follows China's Lin Qinwei as he starts for a men's skeleton training session at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Feb. 10.
Photos show athletes as a blur of motion at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics
From left to right, Roberts Kruzbergs of Latvia, Brandon Kim of the United States, Sun Long of China and Michal Niewinski of Poland compete in the men's 1000 meter short track speed skating heats at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Canada's Cameron Alexander speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's downhill race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Bormio, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Finland's Elian Lehto speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's downhill race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Bormio, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Athletes from Sweden participate in a biathlon training session at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Anterselva, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Utana Yoshida and Masaya Morita of Japan compete during the figure skating ice dance team event at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Sweden's Thea Johansson, left, challenges France's Clara Rozier during a preliminary round match of women's ice hockey between France and Sweden at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Domen Prevc, of Slovenia, goes down the ramp during a ski jumping, men's normal hill, training session, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Predazzo, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Italy's Marilu Poluzzi competes during the women's snowboard big air qualifications at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
United States' Korey Dropkin delivers a stone against Italy during a curling mixed doubles session at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Poland's Nikola Domowicz and Dominika Piwkowska, right, slide down the track during a women's doubles luge training session at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
Brittany Bowe of the U.S. practice ahead of the women's 1,500 meters speedskating race at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Giovanni Bresadola, of Italy, soars through the air during the ski jumping mixed team competition at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Predazzo, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
