Rome, 23 Oct. (askanews) – The Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games have proven to be an extraordinary success, proposing an international model based on sustainability and collaboration between regions. According to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Final Report, the use of 85% of existing or temporary venues and an economic impact exceeding €5 billion set an example for future editions of the French Alps 2030, Switzerland 2038, and the New York-Lake Placid 2042 project. The success of the organizational strategies is confirmed by the survey presented to the Senate, conducted by the Piepoli Institute with WePlan (a company specializing in planning and legacy strategies for major events), which certifies the international success. This organizational success has been a long time coming, the fruit of complex but impeccable management. Andrea Abodi, Minister for Sport and Youth, said: "The survey conducted by the Piepoli Institute allows us to have objective, third-party, authoritative, and independent indicators on the satisfaction with the investment made in the Milan-Cortina Olympics.
Investment in the organization and infrastructure (a small portion of which is related to sports) will continue, in conjunction with work on roads, highways, and railways in the regions and autonomous provinces that hosted the Games. This work will not end because in 2028, the same areas, except for the province of Bolzano, will host the Winter Youth Olympics, with boys and girls aged 15 to 18 coming from all over the world to underscore the universal value of sport and Olympism. Seventy-two percent of Italians fully endorse the overall organization, and 79% appreciate the decision to spread the competitions across multiple locations.
The same percentage of citizens noted a strong revival of Italian pride and image abroad, while 76% recognized the concrete economic benefits brought to tourism and employment. Roberto Daneo, co-founder of WePlan, commented: “It's a great satisfaction also because these games were a gamble: uniting two locations for the first time in the name of the Olympic edition.
Milan and Cortina have never been so close, and uniting such distant territories, almost 500 km apart, was not a given. In the end, we can say we've succeeded and that we've received great support." The Olympics leave a tangible legacy that goes far beyond simple economic returns. An interview with Giorgio Re, co-founder of WePlan: "We are very proud of the results of this research, which demonstrate a significant appreciation among Italians for the event. This adds to the further certifications of the event's success from the International Olympic Committee, which praised the event in its final report, especially regarding the event's economic and employment impact." The legacy of Milan-Cortina 2026 charts a new path for global sport. A speech by Livio Gigliuto, President of the Piepoli Institute: "What Italians tell us is something more: there is a sort of pride, a sort of enthusiasm emanating from public opinion for the way Italy has represented itself abroad through this great event. This is due to the innovative way in which the Olympics were held, which according to Italians should also be replicated for other sporting events of similar caliber. With the promotion of citizens and institutions, the "Italian model" becomes a real promise for the future.
Askanews