Milan as the Capital of the 2026 Olympics: A New Model of Sustainable Development The 2026 Winter Olympics, to be hosted by Milan together with Cortina d'Ampezzo, represent a radical shift in the paradigm of organizing mega-events. Milan, a global metropolis rather than a ski resort, becomes a testing ground for the concept of "dispersed Games" (territorial Games), the key principle of which is the maximum use of existing infrastructure and the creation of a legacy for the daily life of citizens. This approach, initiated by the IOC within the "Olympic Agenda 2020", finds its first large-scale implementation. Geographic and Logistics Model: Clusters Instead of a Megacity The 2026 Games will be distributed across four large clusters in two regions — Lombardy and Veneto. Milan acts not as a point city but as an urban and organizational hub. This model minimizes the need for new capital construction in environmentally vulnerable mountainous areas. Cluster "Milan" (urban): Will focus on ice sports. The foundation is existing or renovated facilities: "Fila-Forum" (Arena Fila) in Assago (hockey) will be temporarily expanded, the Agorà Ice Palace will become the main ice rink for figure skating and short track, and after the Games will be transformed into a public ice rink and sports center. The key facility is the "Mediolanum Forum," an arena built in 1990, which will host hockey competitions. The decision to abandon the construction of a new Olympic village in favor of using the residential district "Village Santa Lucia" in the Porta Romana area, which will become permanent housing for students and young professionals after the Games, is a landmark decision. Cluster "Valtellina" (mountainous, Lombardy): Bormio (skiing) and Valdidentro (biathlon, cross-country skiing) will provide already tested World Cup courses. Cluster "Val di Fiemme" (mountainous, Trentino): Known centers of cross-country skiing and ski jumping. Cluster "Cortina d'Ampezzo" (mountainous, Veneto): The le ... Read more