readiness assured: Winter Games organizers claim preparations are on track for the upcoming event in six months
2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics: A Balance of Cost and Sustainability
The 2026 Winter Olympics, set to take place in Milan and Cortina, Italy, are shaping up to be a unique event that prioritizes cost management and environmental sustainability.
In a bid to control costs and reduce the environmental impact, the organisers have opted to reuse or temporarily adapt existing facilities rather than construct new permanent venues. For instance, the closed track is being restored at a cost of approximately €14 million, while a temporary ice rink for speed skating at Fiera Milano is expected to cost nearly €20 million, funded privately [1].
Sustainable construction methods are being employed in projects associated with the Games. Athlete villages, for example, are being built using locally sourced timber and low embodied carbon materials, solar panels, and rainwater collection systems. These initiatives aim to reduce construction emissions and set a new standard for eco-friendly building practices in major sporting events [2].
The organisers are also keen to avoid the creation of "white elephant" infrastructure, a problem common in past Olympics where costly and unused venues remain after the Games.
The Games will stretch across northern Italy, with events taking place in Cortina in the Dolomites, the western suburbs of Milan, and other "clusters" spread through the Alps. The organisers have assured that all sports construction projects will be completed before the start of the Olympics.
However, a political and construction headache arose due to the lack of a track for bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton events. Organisers are considering using existing sites in Austria or Switzerland [3].
The design of the Olympic medals for the 2026 Winter Games was revealed in July. The medals, weighing 420 grams in bronze, 500 grams in gold, and an undisclosed weight in silver, have been promised to be more durable than the medals from the 2024 Paris Games, which quickly turned black or rusted due to quality issues [4].
The Games will use a host of existing venues, including the almost 2,000-year-old Roman amphitheatre in Verona for the closing ceremony. The Milan Village, six seven-storey buildings, are scheduled to be delivered in early October, despite legal troubles of its developer, the Coima group [5].
The organisers are not concerned about the snow situation, having confidence in the Italian meteorological service's ability to predict the weather next February [6]. However, Italian ski star Federica Brignone's fitness to compete is uncertain, as she suffered a serious injury to her left leg last season [7].
The Olympic opening ceremony is scheduled for February 6, with curling starting two days earlier [8]. The Games are estimated to cost 5.2 billion euros, with 3.5 billion euros going towards infrastructure and 1.7 billion euros on staging the Games [9].
References: 1. BBC News 2. BBC News 3. Reuters 4. CNN 5. Reuters 6. BBC News 7. BBC News 8. BBC News 9. BBC News
The 2026 Winter Olympics, with its focus on environmental sustainability, plans to use reused and temporarily adapted facilities for sports events like speed skating. Additionally, the organizers aim to set a new standard in eco-friendly building practices by employing sustainable construction methods in projects associated with the Games, such as the athlete villages.
