Cloud Over Milan-Cortina 2026 As Police Raid Headquarters

The upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo hit a snag this week as Italian financial police raided the headquarters of the organizing committee. The investigation centers on alleged irregularities in the selection of digital sponsors for the Games, with a focus on potential corruption and bid-rigging.

Authorities conducted searches, seized documents, and inspected computers at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Foundation's offices. Prosecutors are specifically looking into how technological providers and sponsors were chosen, along with the hiring practices of the foundation.

“The checks underway are aimed at procedures used for the selection of technological providers and sponsors as well as the hiring of employees by the foundation,” Milan prosecutors said in a statement. “No current manager or employee of the foundation is under investigation.”

However, reports from Inside The Games suggest that suggest the former CEO, Vincenzo Novari, who stepped down in 2020, is one of three people being investigated.

The Milan-Cortina organizing committee has pledged its full cooperation with the authorities. This incident casts a shadow over the preparations for the prestigious sporting event, raising concerns about transparency and fair play.

The coming months will be crucial as the investigation unfolds. Whether the allegations hold weight and how it might impact the 2026 Games remain to be seen.