Milan’s Olympic ambitions reach new heights

Milan will host the 2026 Winter Olympics together with Cortina: as happened with Expo 2015, Milan’s attractiveness can further increase, continuing a trend that, since 2013, although partially interrupted by the pandemic experience, has been steadily increasing. An international sports event has economic repercussions that affect sports in a strict sense but also the indirect effects that stem from the event. Milan will therefore become even more of a sports city, along with Cortina, with significant implications for social, economic, and environmental sustainability. International events, such as the Olympics, represent a moment of discontinuity for the cities that host them: there is a before and after, a series of growth opportunities that can be measured in terms of legacy. It will be crucial to analyze whether the cultural impact on the region will be enduring. The approach to diversity and inclusion, with the combination of the Olympics and Paralympics, can leave a long-term imprint.