The 2026 Winter Olympics look beyond the horizon
For example, there is Milan, the most contemporary city we have in this country, but where there is no specific tradition for winter sports. But it’s Milan. And then of course we go to Cortina, with its history and its experience in alpine skiing. They have a very strong tradition in curling. They have an incredible history in bobsledding and the sliding sports. Then we go to Anterselva: that is one of the best, best recognized venues for biathlon in the world. Then we have Val di Fiemme, where Nordic sports are a very old tradition. Different editions of world championships. So the infrastructure is already there. Yes, we need to modernize. But it’s already there, so we don’t have to build.
Most of the competition venues already exist, which saves both budget and time. But how do you connect all these things?
It is important that we understand that there is a new system. Because if this concept works, it means more opportunities for other countries to host the Games. So transport, for example: we will do intra-cluster transport, and then we will recommend the use of public transport between clusters as much as possible.
We’re trying to rationalize the whole system for these Games, and hopefully leave it as a legacy for future potential organizing committees or candidate cities, so that they can conceive the Games in a wider area, to involve a larger portion of the population to use existing infrastructure.
Is it because the IOC can’t ask cities or countries to spend $50 billion like Russia did for the Sochi Games? Because nobody wants to host?
The risk is that no one will do the Games in Europe anymore. The Winter Games. The Summer Games is a different story. And Europe is, after all, the heart of winter sports. I mean, with all due respect to everyone, it was born here and the Alps are the Alps.
The Games should go everywhere, and to as many countries as possible. But if we don’t find another system, it will be extremely difficult in Europe. Because, I mean, this country is still a G7 country, and if you can’t afford the Games, who can afford to host the Games?