The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo are drawing to a close, prompting a critical assessment of whether the Games will deliver on promises of sustainability and lasting benefits for Italy. Organizers framed the event as an opportunity to minimize environmental impact by prioritizing existing infrastructure and limiting new construction, a departure from the often-criticized legacy of costly, underutilized Olympic venues. The success of this approach, and the long-term viability of the investments made, remains to be seen.
This year’s Games have been notably geographically dispersed, with competitions held across Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Livigno, and Predazzo. The multi-city model, endorsed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), aimed to maximize the use of existing facilities while strategically investing in areas needing modernization. As the final events conclude on February 22, 2026, attention is turning to the infrastructure legacy and whether it will serve the communities long after the Olympic flame is extinguished.
Infrastructure Upgrades and Community Benefit in Cortina
In Cortina d’Ampezzo, a long-established alpine skiing venue, the Games have spurred upgrades to transport links, public spaces, and sports facilities. Mayor Gianluca Lorenzi emphasized that the most significant legacy will be felt in everyday infrastructure improvements, stating, “So better roads, better facilities, the new ski lift, this is something that is enjoyed directly by citizens but also by those who reach to Cortina.” The Games have also reinforced Cortina’s position as a winter sports hub, expanding its offerings beyond alpine skiing to include sliding disciplines.
A key project in the mountain cluster is the new Cortina Sliding Centre, built to host bobsleigh, skeleton, and luge. The IOC has confirmed the track is intended to remain an international-level venue after the Games, replacing the historic Eugenio Monti track and securing future World Cup and championship events in the region. However, the long-term viability of such investments is increasingly uncertain given the impacts of climate change on winter sports.
Milan’s Urban Regeneration Focus
In Milan, the Olympic legacy centers on urban redevelopment. The Olympic Village, constructed in the Porta Romana area on a former railway yard, is part of a broader regeneration project that predates the Games but was accelerated by the Olympic timeline. During the Games, the complex housed athletes in purpose-built residential blocks designed for conversion after 2026. The IOC has confirmed the Village will be transformed into student housing, providing thousands of beds for students at institutions like Bocconi University, the University of Milan, and Politecnico di Milano.
The development also includes public green spaces and mixed-use buildings intended to integrate the area into the surrounding neighborhood. Another key facility, the 16,000-capacity Arena Santa Giulia, hosted Olympic ice hockey and will become a flexible events space for concerts, sports, and conventions. Its location near the Rogoredo transport hub and a metro line is central to a broader strategy to redevelop the Santa Giulia district into a mixed residential and commercial area.
A Shift Towards Sustainable Investment
Organizers largely relied on existing or upgraded facilities across the Games footprint, reducing new construction and associated emissions. In Milan, the Mediolanum Forum in Assago, already used for basketball, concerts, and figure skating, hosted Olympic events with temporary adaptations. Similarly, established ski slopes and ice rinks in the mountain venues were modernized to meet Olympic standards, focusing on safety, technology, and spectator capacity rather than entirely new construction.
Dino Ruta, a professor of Sports and Events Business at Bocconi University, noted that the success of the Olympic Village’s conversion will be critical to public perception of the Games’ legacy. He also emphasized the inspirational value of the Games themselves, stating, “The Games are very much inspirational. The five rings, the six colours of the Olympic flag, that’s something that people will remember forever.”
However, the environmental impact remains under scrutiny. Winter sports are inherently energy-intensive, requiring snowmaking and extensive infrastructure. As climate change accelerates, the long-term sustainability of future Olympics in mountain regions is increasingly uncertain. Organizers hope Milan-Cortina will set a precedent, demonstrating that careful planning and multi-purpose infrastructure can minimize emissions and maximize community benefit.
As the competition nears its finish, the ultimate measure of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics’ legacy will not be the scale of the facilities, but whether they remain active, environmentally responsible, financially viable, and accessible to residents long after the Olympic flame is extinguished. The coming years will reveal whether this approach to hosting the Games can truly deliver a sustainable and lasting impact.
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