sports
February 13, 2026
The Winter Olympics is a dazzling spectacle – but on the ground in Italy the mood is darker
The Games could have showcased Milan’s abundant culture and architecture. Instead it has filled the city with gaudy pavilions and gentrification
TL;DR
- Milan's public spaces have been transformed into a commercial spectacle for the Winter Olympics, with corporate messaging and gaudy pavilions replacing cultural engagement.
- The Games have brought significant disruption, cost, and gentrification, leading to soaring property prices and the displacement of long-term residents.
- In the mountain regions hosting outdoor events, an extractive logic has led to intensive infrastructure expansion and a focus on luxury tourism, negatively impacting local businesses and communities.
- The Ladin people, an indigenous ethnic and linguistic minority, have been excluded from decision-making processes and have had their heritage misrepresented.
- The event has been criticized for prioritizing a manufactured image over social realities and for its environmental impact, such as the felling of an ancient forest for a bobsled track.
- The contrast with the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics highlights a missed opportunity for Milan to integrate the Games with the city's cultural fabric and create a lasting legacy.
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