The Winter Olympics is winding down with a spectacular closing ceremony on Sunday, but the athletes’ village is still abuzz with action.Close to 3,000 Olympians have made a home away from home in six specially-created sites across Milan, Cortina, Bormio, Livigno, Predazzo and Anterselva.The Olympic Village goes viral every time the Games unfolds, and 2026 is no differentGettyThis year the athletes’ accommodation is split over six locationsGettyWith events at this year’s Games taking place in multiple locations, from the streets of Milan to the mountains of Cortina d’Ampezzo 250 miles away, the village has been decentralized.It certainly hasn’t stopped the Olympians from getting to know one another — with reports of a condom crisis threatening to ruin all the fun.As always, the village itself is generating plenty of interest around the Games, and those on the outside looking in are in awe once more of the fascinating logistics behind housing thousands of the world’s most elite athletes under one metaphorical roof.Much was made of the fact that COIMA, Italy’s leading real estate investor and developer, had completed the village in just 30 months — 30 days ahead of schedule.The project set ‘new standards’ for sustainable Olympic developments, with zero-emission buildings and a lasting legacy.Once the Games are done in Milan, the village will be converted into student housing for those studying in the city.The Olympic Village Plaza, meanwhile, will transform into a community square with retail stores, bars, restaurants and cafes, surrounded by outdoor areas designated for farmers’ markets and other post-Olympic activities.Beyond the details of a sustainable culture set to leave a legacy in Milan, and even the grabby headlines that continue to command worldwide attention, the athletes’ village holds plenty of other secrets.Bart Swings, who came to Milan as Belgium’s defending Olympic champion in speed skating’s mass start event, took talkSPORT behind the scenes from his room in the heart of the village.Olympic champion reveals secrets behind Milan Olympic Village“It’s a really nice village. It’s my fourth Olympics. So I’m not too crazy surprised anymore. But I really like the vibe that we always get,” Swings said, speaking from the room which has been his home for much of February.Swings is an Olympic champion speed skater who has competed at four GamesAFP“We are with Belgium on one big hallway. All the rooms are together. And that’s one thing that I love already — to get to connect with all the other athletes from Belgium, but from every different kind of sport.“It gives you the energy of wanting to compete, and wanting to get the best out of yourself. “There are amazing things in the village, we have a gaming room. But still for me it’s all about the vibe of getting the best out of yourself.“Being in this village gets that feeling for me. I’ve been, of course, a few times to the Samsung Gaming House — that was pretty cool! A nice experience. But we’re here for one thing.”Swings, who won Belgium’s first Winter Olympic gold for 74 years in Beijing back in 2022, is an athletes’ village veteran.He has competed at four games, his first coming at Sochi in 2014, and knows a secret or two about making the most of his time in the village — and coming home with plenty of special mementos.Swings has revealed some of the secrets behind this year’s villageAFPAthlete pins, which date back to 1896, are cherished, collectable tokens that represent international friendship and cultural exchange between competitors.These days, they are highly sought-after, and often traded by athletes, staff, and even fans.According to Swings, who competed on the penultimate day of the Games in the men’s mass start speed skating event, there are some ‘secret’ collectables on offer.“There are some ways to get some secret pins,” he revealed.Swings knows how to get his hands on secret pinsGetty“The pins are trending and everybody wants to trade them. But if you do some tutorials on the Athlete 365 app, you can get extra ones that not everybody can have.“Those things are pretty fun. But I try to focus as much as possible on skating, and on the sporting side.“It’s just finding your rhythm here, and getting a good feeling in the village is important. You feel at home really quickly. It’s really becoming like a bubble in the world. As if everything else is not existing anymore.“So the day you go back home it’s back to reality. Then you see you were really in a special place for the last three weeks.”Swings is eyeing back-to-back Olympic gold in MilanGettyWho throws the best room parties in the Olympic Village?The main focus, as Swings says, is on Winter Olympics competition. But once the events are done, and the medals are handed out, there is a little time left for partying.Legendary US snowboarder Shaun White once claimed that the American’s know how to throw the best, and wildest, room parties. Swings, who one of a number of athletes partnered with OnlyFans for this year’s Games, has first-hand experience of those. “I’ve been only once, at the last Olympics when I got the gold,” he explained.US legend White once boasted that the Americans throw the best room partiesGetty“I went to the US after party. It was my last race, and I won a gold medal. I have to say it was an amazing party.“I haven’t been to any others. So maybe I have to admit that he’s (White) is correct with it!”As the Winter Olympics draws to a close this weekend, the US has one final opportunity to throw a rager, having won the blue ribbon event on the last day of the Milano Cortina competition. US men secure ice hockey gold for first time in nearly 50 yearsIn a blockbuster final, the Americans won the men’s Olympic ice hockey gold medal for the first time in 46 years, beating neighbours Canada 2-1.The US men’s team won ice hockey gold on the final day in MilanGettyThe final gold of the Games was sealed by Jack Hughes, in overtime, after the US withstood pressure from the dominant Canadians throughout most of the contest.Milan marks the first time since the ‘Miracle on Ice’ at Lake Placid in 1980 that the men’s team have won at the Olympics — and also the first time they have done so outside of their home country.“This is all about our country. I love the USA, I love our teammates. I’m so proud to be American today,” Hughes said, while also praising goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who had the game of his life in Italy.“Unbelievable game by Hellebuyck, he was our best player by a mile.The American men had not won ice hockey gold since 1980Getty“Just a ballsy, gutsy win. That’s American hockey right there. Tonight was all for the country.”The gold medal was secured by Team USA — in the most dramatic circumstances. And if reputation is anything to go by, the parties that follow on Sunday night could be legendary.