Milan Cortina Winter Olympics
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This Italian Ski Town Is Known as the ‘Pearl of the Dolomites’—and It’s Taking Center Stage During the Winter Olympics
With the return of the Winter Olympics, all eyes are once again on Cortina d’Ampezzo.
The winter sporting events cover nearly 14,000 square miles.
The Milan Cortina Winter Games are covering lots of ground in Italy!
MILAN (AP) — The Milan Cortina Winter Games are the most spread-out in Olympic history. For the organizers of the Feb. 6-22 Games, it was a choice to use existing infrastructure as much as possible, but this means no central hub and strategic choices for spectators. The Games will span over 8,500 square miles.
If you hadn’t heard of Cortina d’Ampezzo before, you’re about to. This charming alpine town is long beloved by European travelers and is about to become one of the hottest destinations in the world, thanks to its role as a co-host for the 2026 Winter Olympics alongside Milan.
The last time 2026 co-host Cortina d'Ampezzo had an Olympic moment? Seventy years ago. Join us as we go back in time to see what was happening in 1956.
Seventy years after hosting the Olympic Winter Games, Cortina d'Ampezzo is preparing for its next chapter. Milano Cortina 2026 builds on the legacy of the 1956 Games, with a planning model that makes the most of what already exists, and an approach focused on creating long-term value for Alpine communities in a changing mountain environment.
The Games in northern Italy, which start on Friday, will be spread across 8,500 square miles. Long distances, narrow roads, complex connections and snowfall will make it a logistical nightmare.