Milan Cortina 2026 Organising Committee Meets...... 2,026 Days Before The Games
2026 days before the opening ceremony of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, the Board of Directors of the foundation organising the Games met in the iconic Milanese headquarters of Pirellone for two days under the guidance of President Giovanni Malagò. During the meetings, CEO Vincenzo Novari provided the directors with extensive and detailed information on the progress, which continued without delay even during the lockdown.
"We are optimistic, positive and proactive," said CONI President Malagò. "There is great interest in this Olympiad because with the double candidacy of Milan and Cortina we have opened a new era: the project of a great innovative event takes off, full of energy on the sports floor and light from an economic and structural point of view. Building less, building better and leaving a legacy for the future, these are fixed points. A vision to which all the councillors, both the representatives of the territories and institutions and those of sport, in these two days have contributed with a positive spirit ".
Milan Cortina 2026 is the first winter Olympics that will operate according to the IOC’s Agenda 2020, the reform that aims to make the Olympic and Paralympic Games sustainable, flexible and efficient.
"We want Milan Cortina 2026 to be not just the Milan or Cortina Games, but all of Italy ", underlined the CEO Vincenzo Novari. "It is a unique opportunity for development for a country that has to start again: this is why our work starts immediately and will leave a positive legacy well beyond 2026. The goal is to create an unforgettable edition of the Games. The first as regards the operation of the event will not use one euro of public money, leaving a light and positive impression of its passage ".
At the end of the two-day meeting, the Foundation's Board of Directors unanimously approved the President's report and, by majority, some statutory amendments of a technical nature, and listened to the report of the Project Director, Diana Bianchedi.
Piers Jones, Head of Games Delivery of the IOC also participated in the work of the Foundation: “We work in close synergy with the Organising Committee. An Olympiad is the biggest challenge a country can face in peacetime. An extraordinary opportunity for the sports movement and for the whole of Italy. The IOC appreciates the work done so far and is at the side of the Organising Committee to make Milan Cortina 2026 an example for all the next Games ".
Furthermore the first official site inspection for freestyle, freeski and snowboard took place on Monday and Tuesday in Livigno, which will host the events across all freestyle and snowboard discipline i.e. moguls & aerials, snowboard alpine, snowboard and freeski park & pipe as well as ski and snowboard cross.
All FIS Freestyle, Freeski and Snowboard competition directors were on site and had an opportunity to meet with the organisers and discuss early plans for development of three different venues for the 2026 OWG at the iconic ski destination in the Italian region of Lombardy.
The meetings were very fruitful, with the OC showing great determination and enthusiasm. While it’s a little early to talk about details at this stage, the conceptual plan is well underway. The next inspection is planned in the middle of November, where more details will be revealed, including the proper vision on venues and site developments.
