Winter Olympics Cortina 2026: a blessing or a curse?
The Winter Olympics Cortina 2026 is being hailed as a major sporting event, capable of inspiring dreams and reviving memories of the glorious 1956 Games. The town’s elders, who lived through that golden era, recall how the event transformed Cortina, granting its international visibility, new infrastructure, and a deep sense of shared pride.
Today, the idea of replicating that success is enticing; however, doubts and questions arise, highlighting how different the current situation is compared to the past.
The legacy of the 1956 Olympics
The 1956 Olympics marked a turning point for Cortina. At the time, it was still a small mountain resort, known only to a handful of mountaineering enthusiasts. Suddenly, it was thrust into the global spotlight. For many, it was a dream come true: new roads, modern sports facilities, and hotels were finally able to accommodate an increasingly international tourist influx. Those who were there still remember the atmosphere of those years—enthusiasm and energy filled the air.
The Olympics brought not just sports but a profound transformation. The community was involved, and people were eager to contribute. Cortina was growing while still preserving its soul.
Reflecting on that period, one might wonder: Why were things done so carefully back then, while everything seems so chaotic today? Maybe it was because, back then, people weren’t just chasing quick profits—they had a bigger vision that honored both the land and those who had always belonged to it.
If you’re curious to learn how the 1956 Olympics were truly organized, and how the challenges of the time were met with care, diplomatic skill, and deep respect for the territory, I recommend reading this in-depth historical article. It’s a fascinating journey through sports, politics, and culture, showing an Italy capable of impressing the world with seriousness and vision.
👉 Read the full document.
A new reality: between promises and challenges
If, in 1956, Cortina truly needed new facilities and infrastructure to emerge as a premier tourist destination, today’s situation is entirely different. The town is no longer a small village seeking visibility but an already established destination attracting thousands of visitors yearly. The real issue is excessive tourist pressure, which is distorting the territory and straining those who live here year-round.
The prospect of economic growth tied to the Winter Olympics Cortina 2026 clashes with a reality marked by questionable choices and a management approach that seems to ignore the local community’s needs. Instead of improving essential services or addressing overcrowding, the focus is on attracting even more tourists and constructing new facilities without ensuring they are genuinely necessary—raising concerns that they may be another speculative endeavor.
The Apollonio-Socrepes cable car project
Among the many controversial topics, one of the most debated is the Apollonio-Socrepes cable car project. Originally conceived as a strategic solution for Olympic logistics and an alternative to traffic congestion, the project has been pursued despite initial objections from the Superintendency, the Basin Authority, the Province of Belluno, geologists, and a significant portion of the local population. But let’s be honest—who will use the cable car to reach summer destinations like the Cinque Torri or Passo Falzarego?
Furthermore, the facility’s starting point lacks adequate parking—an essential structure included in the project but one that will not be completed in time for the Olympics. These factors, along with the environmental impact, raise serious doubts about the validity of the project and its actual ability to improve mobility in the area.
Winter Olympics Cortina 2026 and additional ski lifts: a growing problem
Beyond the cable car, new proposals for additional ski lifts have surfaced, aiming to create new connections between the region’s ski areas. However, these interventions risk further increasing tourist pressure and altering the environmental balance, turning the territory into a playground for those seeking only immediate gains without future perspectives.
The increased flow of visitors could lead to greater consumption of natural resources and an increase in waste, threatening local flora and fauna.
Moreover, global warming is making snow cover at lower altitudes increasingly problematic, putting the future of the ski and winter sports industry at risk.
Rising temperatures are compromising the quality and quantity of snow, forcing ski resorts to rely more and more on artificial snowmaking.
This practice is increasingly wasteful, as water is a precious resource that becomes scarcer with each passing year. Using water for snowmaking in these times does not make sense, considering the growing issue of water scarcity and the pressing need to conserve it.
Winter Olympics Cortina 2026 and the new bobsled track
Alongside the cable car, another contentious project is the new bobsled track. While some enthusiasts praise it, a large portion of the population questions its necessity. Despite claims that construction is progressing well, the track appears incomplete just one month before the scheduled test runs.
The greatest concern, however, is its future utility: Bobsledding is a niche sport with few practitioners. While the Olympics may temporarily justify the track’s operation, it is not guaranteed to still be useful in ten years.
Moreover, the high operating costs—justified only within the context of the Olympics—risk becoming a long-term burden on taxpayers.
Ticket sales and access to competitions
Recently, the ticketing system has sparked outrage. Despite many residents having priority access, the purchasing experience has been frustrating: tickets sold out in record time, especially for women’s alpine skiing events.
This situation has sparked a strong sense of unfairness and exclusion, as those who have always considered the Olympics a community event now find themselves left out. The Milan-Cortina 2026 Foundation defended the system, citing overwhelming demand, but locals perceive things differently—especially given the municipality’s decision to purchase 135 tickets for administrators and executives. This decision has stirred discontent and raised an important question: Couldn’t the IOC have donated a significant number of tickets to key members of the host city?
Sustainability and missing services
On the sustainability front, the event’s promises clash with reality. Cortina lacks numerous essential services: a swimming pool that has been closed for years, deteriorating urban infrastructure, and a malfunctioning wastewater treatment plant that releases untreated sewage into the Boite River. Indoor tennis courts no longer exist, and the Montessori School—once a cherished institution—has shut down.
These are just a few examples of a much longer list. The progressive decline of infrastructure and services raises serious doubts about the town’s ability to manage such a massive event sustainably and inclusively.
The real estate market: skyrocketing prices and resident hardships
In recent years, Cortina has witnessed an exponential rise in property prices. The cost per square meter has reached astronomical levels, making homeownership nearly impossible for many—especially young locals. Fueled by external investors, this phenomenon risks transforming the town into an enclave for wealthy second-home owners while pushing local people out.
The consequences are evident: the social fabric is deteriorating, young people are leaving, and Cortina’s character is reshaped by economic forces indifferent to community needs.
The transformation of the hospitality sector
Undeniably, many hotels in Cortina needed renovation. I am pleased that the contributions received by the Olympics have finally allowed these structures to be modernized, improving their standards and services.
While many hotels in Cortina needed renovation, and Olympic funding has enabled long-overdue upgrades, one must wonder: would these improvements have happened without such financial aid?
Many hotels have been demolished or extensively renovated to make way for luxury establishments, often managed by international chains catering to an elite clientele.
Yet Cortina lacks affordable accommodation, which is highly sought after by visitors who come for the mountains and nature rather than luxury shopping.
An uncertain future for Cortina
The 1956 Olympics remind us of how Cortina grew through thoughtful investments and community-focused management. Nowadays, though, the event seems to take place without real involvement from the local community. The construction of controversial infrastructures, the opaque ticketing process, and the soaring real estate market suggest an approach driven by external interests rather than local well-being.
If the 2026 Winter Olympics are meant to reignite the optimistic spirit of 1956, the current reality falls far short. Public funds and investments should be managed sustainably and transparently so that Cortina retains its identity and remains a welcoming home for its residents.
My connection to Cortina d’Ampezzo
I was born in Cortina and have breathed the air of these mountains from the earliest days of my life. As an alpine guide, the mountain is not just my profession but a profound passion: I have explored and admired numerous peaks worldwide, but no panorama or natural beauty can compete with the unparalleled charm of the Dolomites.
For me, this territory is the most beautiful in the world. Every trail has a story to tell, and every rock carries the memory of a genuine past.
However, today, I see a bleak future for my beloved Cortina. The constant influx of tourists and the relentless push to “do more” – more ski lifts, widening roads, improving accessibility to increase traffic and noise – risk distorting this mountain gem.
I am deeply disappointed with the current municipal administration, which seems to prefer short-term profit-driven interventions over investing in preserving this territory’s identity and authenticity. Not only do the decisions seem guided more by economic interests than the community’s welfare, but even more grave is the total lack of transparency about how things are genuinely progressing. Citizens are faced with decisions that have already been made without honest sharing or public discussion.
Projects are carried out without adequate information, leaving the community in the dark about plans that will directly impact the lives of those here year-round.
In such a context, it becomes impossible for residents to fully understand the consequences of the decisions made and have a say in the future of their town.
Greed and a lack of long-term vision risk compromising Cortina’s future, transforming it into a playground for those seeking easy profits. At the same time, the fundamental interests of the community are systematically ignored.
Cortina Winter Olympics 2026: My final thought
The Dolomites are already overwhelmed by tourism. Further expansion risks compromising the environmental balance and the quality of life for residents. The town’s administration seems more focused on short-term profits than preserving the region’s identity and authenticity.
Many locals share my concerns, though not everyone dares to speak out for fear of conflicts. But in matters concerning the future of our home, silence is not an option.
Cortina should be protected, not turned into a profit-driven amusement park at the expense of its residents.
Images of the Olympics in Cortina in 1956
Notes
Speed skating athletes in training.
The competitions took place on Lake Misurina and medals were awarded in four speed skating specialties.
