Milano Cortina Olympics: A Low-Key Approach to Sports’ Showpiece

A Muted Opening

The singing never stops, or so it seems, at Milan’s San Siro stadium, where Inter Milan has dismantled Bologna. Yet, the city’s enthusiasm for the Milano Cortina Olympics, starting Feb. 6, remains a worrying question mark.

Venues and Village: Spread Out and Underway

Venues for the Games are spread across northern Italy, in clusters at Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Valtellina, and Cesana San Sicario. While the Milano Santagiulia hockey arena is still under construction, Milan’s athletes’ village is nearing completion, with housing to become student accommodations post-Games.

“Milanograd,” one Google review reads, summing up local opinions on the new housing.

Sustainability and Long-term Planning

Milano Cortina is betting on longevity and sustainability, relying on existing facilities and planning for their use post-Games. Private financing for the hockey arena ensures it will become a year-round sports and entertainment venue. Milan’s elite soccer fans offer a hopeful sign of the city’s huge potential for events.

Challenges and Opportunities

• Challenges: Slow ticket sales, lack of snow, and football fever could dampen Milano Cortina’s atmosphere.
• Opportunities: The reliance on existing infrastructure and long-term planning could set a new responsible standard for major sporting events.

“Prove Them Wrong”

The murals on the plywood hoarding outside the Olympic village tell a story – one of anticipation, determination, and defiance. They capture the spirit of Milano Cortina, ready to prove its critics wrong.