Latest news with #MilanCortina2026
NBC Sports
21-07-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Andrea Varnier, 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Games CEO, talks prep plans 200 days out
Andrea Varnier, the Milan Cortina 2026 Chief Executive Officer, spoke with about preparations for the Games, which open in 200 days. This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity. OlympicTalk: The Olympic and Paralympic medal designs have been revealed. In recent Games, we've seen some complex medal designs, including the Torino 2006 medals, which had the hollow center to represent the Italian piazza. The 2026 medals were described as minimalist on the Milan Cortina website. Why is it that you have gone with this type of design for the medals and not as complex as others? Varnier: That's part of our overall design strategy. It's also in line with our torch design. We studied a lot what was done in the past. Of course, we have the Torino heritage. So, how can you go more extreme than a medal with a hole in the middle? So at one point we said that we're looking to make a different type of statement: a statement about essentiality, about sustainability. And there's references about Italian avant-garde of the 1900s that were actually born in Milan. There's two faces, two parts of the medals, telling a lot of stories, like mountain and city, athletes and everybody that's around the athletes. With the rings in the middle and the Agitos in the middle for the Paralympics, we think it's a very strong statement. OlympicTalk: What are the biggest challenges or areas of focus that you have in getting ready for the Games between now and February? Varnier: We're entering a very interesting phase. After a lot of planning, we're actually starting to build things — overlay and temporary stuff. This is a very good feeling that you start entering the venues — that was mostly on paper until a few days ago. Of course, when you start the operations, many challenges come about. There are a couple of sport infrastructures that are still under construction. Mainly the main hockey arena and the sliding center. The sliding track is fully ready now. They're working on the surrounding areas. So we're monitoring this closely, because before the Games, we still have to perform some test events in these two venues. Nick Zaccardi, OlympicTalk: On the sliding center: over the last year, as this has been in the news and progressing, did you ever have any significant worries that it would be ready? And how satisfied are you now that everything is looking good? Varnier: We were confident that if the government agency that was in charge of works made their plans and said, 'we can do it,' we always try to be optimistic. But nonetheless, we had an alternative plan. But then, following the pre-homologation (test runs by athletes for the first time) in March, we were very happy. Not having the sliding center in Cortina would have been a great damage for the Games, for everybody. Starting from the athletes. The experience of the sliding athletes will have been different. But also for the other athletes in Cortina. They will have missed the opportunity to stay with their colleagues from the sliding sports. It would have been very difficult for the media. It will have been very strange for the spectators. So we were surely very happy when it was finally sure that we were able to do the competition in Cortina. OlympicTalk: What can you say about the plans you have for the Opening Ceremony to incorporate athletes who are at the clusters outside of Milan? Varnier: This is one of the challenges that we have since the beginning, because of the nature of our Games, so widespread. It's virtually impossible for the athletes to be in Milan if they are in the in the mountain clusters. Not only if you compete the next day, but in general, the distances are relevant. So we tried to study the possibility to involve them in different areas and incorporate them in the ceremony. So not just like has been done in the past, to have a video from a village and some people waving, but really being part of the ceremony. So we are developing a potential plan to have some cluster activators. It will be Livigno, Predazzo, and, obviously, Cortina. So in the end, we try to have the athletes staying in these clusters do an actual parade in a venue, potentially with people watching, and then it will be the magic of broadcasters to make sure it will look like a single parade. So the athletes will be all participating. In this model, there will also be some segments that will be performed in the different venues, so that makes it unity regardless of the distances. OlympicTalk: Is the plan still to have two cauldrons, one in Milan, one in Cortina? Varnier: Absolutely. This is for sure. They will be lit at the same time, and then will be going off for the same moment during the Closing Ceremony. OlympicTalk: Why was it decided to have the Olympic Closing Ceremony and Paralympic Opening Ceremony at the Verona Arena, outside of the main competition venue clusters? (Editor's note: The venue plan, including Verona, was decided before Varnier joined the Milan Cortina 2026 team.) Varnier: I think the idea behind that is, first of all, to find something very special. Having an Olympic ceremony and a Paralympic ceremony in an ancient, first century Roman amphitheater, I think, is something extraordinary. Only in Italy you could do something like that. Then Verona, yes, it's out of the competition clusters, but in fact, it is in the middle of the Olympic (venue) system. So we still think it is for some of the athletes and for some of the Olympic family a good point when the competitions are finished, to come down and meet. There's also another important statement that is to do mostly with the Paralympic Opening Ceremony. The Verona Arena has been used for shows for 100 years. And it's not accessible, according to the law. So the government made a 20 million euro investment to make the arena fully accessible. I think this is a very important achievement and a very strong message and legacy of our Games. Because if you can make it accessible in a first century Roman amphitheater, it means that you can do it everywhere. OlympicTalk: The Olympic torch relay will be starting in a few months visiting all of Italy's provinces. What do you foresee will be some of the most memorable images coming from that torch relay? Varnier: One important feature of our route is Italy is the country with the highest number of UNESCO World Heritage sites. We have over 60, and we are going through all of them. This is an important statement that we want to give to the world. Of course, some are quite remote, so it will not be the actual full relay to go there, but we will touch upon all of them. Then we have some other important highlights. For example, we will arrive in Cortina on the 26th of January, so 11 days before the Opening Ceremony. That's exactly the 70th anniversary of the Opening Ceremony of the 1956 Games in Cortina. OlympicTalk: Is there anything that we haven't addressed that's important as we look forward to the next 200 days into the start of the Games? Varnier: We're having an incredible volunteer campaign. We are using 18,000 volunteers. We were aiming to have between 40,000 and 50,000 applications. We reached more than 120,000 applications. It means that there's a lot of people passionate for the Games. We have of lot of young people that want to be a volunteer, and that's extraordinary. We saw the incredible number of tickets in the first wave in the spring. Now we're going through a second and final wave starting in the fall. It's very interesting to see that the greatest majority of the tickets have been sold to people 40 years and below. That's a good sign for the Olympic Movement to have so many younger parts of the population that are still enthusiastic about the Games.
Forbes
09-07-2025
- Forbes
7 Surprising Ways To Experience Authentic Milan
A vintage tram near the Arco della Pace. getty When I lived in Milan, it wasn't the tourist destination it is today, and while there was no shortage of travelers arriving at Malpensa or Linate airports each week, they typically came to the then often-foggy city for work. Now Milan is an international hot spot, drawing 8.5 million visitors a year, not only for business, but also for leisure, bleisure, and various fashion pursuits— a one-million increase over pre-pandemic numbers. Those figures are sure to grow in 2026 when the Milan-Cortina Olympics kick off. Parco Sempione. one of MIlan's more tranquil settings, with a view of the Sforza Castle. getty While you won't face Venice-like crowding in Milan, the Duomo-Galleria area can get packed, but there's much to see beyond the best-known attractions. Here are a number of suggestions for experiencing Milan with a new twist. The city's monument to Leonardo da Vinci is in the Piazza della Scala. getty Hundreds of thousands of visitors flock to see La Ultima Cena each year, as well they should, but there are other important Da Vinci works to check out in the city, too. At the monumental Castello Sforzesco, the fortress of the ruling Sforza family during the early days of the Renaissance, you'll find one of the artist's most unusual efforts, a large-scale illusionary fresco with an intricate pergola design; it covers the vaulted ceiling and walls of the Sala delle Asse, a grand salon where Duke Ludovico Sforza, once held court. The late Dr. Augusto Marinoni, renowned Da Vinci scholar, at the Biblioteca Ambrosiana with the Codex Atlanticus. (Photo: James L. Amos/Corbis via Getty Images) Corbis via Getty Images Then head to the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, an outstanding museum about a 15-minute walk from the castle, to see Portrait of a Musician , an uncompleted canvas thought to be Da Vinci's only male portrait, along with the extraordinary collection of the artist's drawings and observations that make up the Codex Atlanticus. The Castello Sforzesco, where the Sforzas once ruled Milan. (Photo: Paolo e Federico Manusardi / Electa / Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images) Mondadori via Getty Images Florence had its Medicis, the powerful patrons of the Renaissance; Milan (and great swaths of Lombardy) were under the sway of the another larger-than-life family, the Sforzas, who dominated the city from 1450-1535 and were instrumental in making it a noteworthy cultural hub. Explore the castle and grounds, where the ducal Sforzas lived, now home to eight museums. The Sforza Pinacoteca showcases paintings by Mantegna, Tiziano and Tintoretto; another museum in the Spanish Hospital section of the fortress displays Michelangelo's Rondanini Pietà, the mega-artist's last sculpture. For a repository of priceless bronzes, ivories, glassware and tapestries from the Middle Ages to the present, go to the castle's Museum of Decorative Arts. If you want to step back further into the past, go to the Archaeological Museum, showcasing items from ancient Egypt. The cloister of Santa Maria delle Grazie, part of the church complex commissioned by Ludovico Sforza. (Photo: Bluered/REDA/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) Universal Images Group via Getty Images The trompe l'oeil choir space at Santa Maria presso San Satiro, another church commissioned by the Sforzas. (Photo: Francesco Tanasi / Electa / Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images) Mondadori via Getty Images Ludovico Sforza commissioned the church, Santa Maria delle Grazie, as a final resting place for his family, along with Da Vinci's The Last Supper , which was painted on a refectory wall. The church, parts of which are believed to be the work of Donato Bramante, who created the initial designs for St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, can be visited without a reservation (a small donation is appreciated). Another Sforza-Bramante collaboration was Santa Maria presso San Satiro, which is known for its trompe l'oeil choir space. (The Sforzas also had a hand in the development of the Duomo, as well as the cathedral's piazza, an exceptionally popular photo site in the city today.) Take in Milan's house museums. Milan has often been described as a place that best reveals itself behind closed doors, in the homes, courtyards and clubs of the its most influential residents. To get a sense of private Milan, at least as it was in the recent (and not-so-recent) past, head to one of the city's house museums. The Case Museo di Milano, a network of former private dwellings, includes Villa Necchi Campiglio, a Rationalist touchstone from the 1930s and a location for Luca Guadagnino's, I Am Love . Fans of 20th-century art should visit Casa Museo Boschi Di Stefano, the former residence of collectors Antonio Boschi and Marieda Di Stefano, given to the city in 1974. The antique staircase at the Poldi Pezzoli Museum. (Photo: Federico Magi/Mondadori via Getty Images) Mondadori via Getty Images Gian Giacomo Poldi Pezzoli collected Old World masterpieces in the 19th century, among them works by Bellini, Raphael, Canaletto and Botticelli, which are now displayed in his former palazzo, the Museo Poldi Pezzoli. The Bagatti Valsecchi Museum is named for Barons Fausto and Giuseppe Bagatti Valsecchi, who filled their home with a trove of Renaissance paintings and decorative objects. Stop by this lesser-known fashion museum. The Palazzo Morando houses a museum devoted to the history of Milan and a Costume Fashion collection. (Photo: Oscar Gonzalez/NurPhoto via Getty Images) NurPhoto via Getty Images The big-ticket visits for fashion lovers are Armani Silos and the Rem Koolhaas-designed Fondazione Prada, major museums devoted to the collections of two of the most influential names in the history of Italian fashion. To learn more about Italian style over the centuries, head to Palazzo Morando, a palace on Via Sant'Andrea from the 1700s, about a one-minute walk from Via Montenapoleone, Milan's luxury shopping street. The palazzo houses an intriguing collection of historic costumes and accessories, ranging from the 17th century to the present day, as well as an assortment of antiques and a picture gallery with important depictions of Milan and its urban life spanning hundreds of years. Model Amber Valletta in a vintage shop in Milan. (Photo: Arthur Elgort/Conde Nast/Contour by Getty Images) Contour by Getty Images Visit Milan's vintage stores. Via Montenapoleone is an essential stop even for non shoppers if only to see the great design skills of Italy's top ready-to-wear, jewelry, and shoe designers. But if you're looking for prêt - a-porter pieces at lesser cost, along with items from designers who may have once dominated the city's runways, but whose labels today are harder to find, head to a good vintage shop. One place to start is Via Gian Giacomo Mora, where you'll find Cavalli e Nastri (No.12), known for its collection of fine Italian brands, unique pieces, as well as a selection of antiques. Bivio (No. 4 for women; no.14 for men), is stocked with both designer labels and popular brands. Ambroeus Milan is another option with two store locations, one in the Isola neighborhood at Via Pastrengo 15; the other in the Navigli area at Viale Gorizia 34. Try an 'insider' dining spot. Don Lisander restaurant. (Photo:) Getty Images With its sophisticated residents and an extensive Lombardy culinary heritage (endless varieties of risotto!) to draw on, Milan has long offered a rich dining scene, made all the more vibant in recent years with the introduction of new places like Veramente, Cucina Franca and the recently opened Lubna, winning plaudits from locals and visitors alike. To see Milanese both at play and at work, head to a classic power spot, like Il Baretto. Opened in 1962, this restaurant has been the go-to for decades for Italy's bold-faced business names like the Agnelli clan (Gianni Agnelli was a regular), fashion executives and media honchos to talk shop over house specialities like costoletta alla Milanese or prawns and Mammole (artichokes). The setting is club-like with dark paneling; there's aslo a lush garden area for outdoor dining and aperitivi. Another mainstay for Milan's well-heeled diners is Don Lisander, located in part of a palazzo from the 1500s with a beautiful garden Stay cool. The Sina de la Ville pool with views of the top of Milan's Duomo. Courtesy of Sina de la Ville While Milan is certainly not a beach destination, summers here can be steamy, yet there are ways to stay cool in hot weather without running from one air-conditioned refuge to the next. Many luxury hotels have wonderful indoor pools, but if you want some al fresco swimming, book at the Sina de la Ville, among only a handful of properties in the city center to have an outdoor pool. The new reception area. Courtesy of Sina de la Ville Located a few blocks from the Duomo and a few steps from shopping emporium La Rinascente, Sina de la Ville, one of Milan's mid-century classics and a Sina Hotel since 1989, offers a competitively-priced four-star option in a destination that's recently seen an influx of five-star lodging. It recently completed a major redo with new public spaces—lounge, reception and bar area—designed with a blend of sharp modern styles. Various rooms and suites were also refurbished. Milanese seek out Il Vizio Restaurant on the hotel's ground floor for its unique hybrid Italian and sushi menu overseen by chef Marco Gargalia, known for his passion for Japanese cooking.
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Buonfiglio the new Italian Olympic Committee boss ahead of Milan-Cortina Games
ROME (AP) — Luciano Buonfiglio, a canoe athlete at the 1976 Montreal Games, was elected president of the Italian Olympic committee (CONI) on Thursday to keep the body moving in the same direction ahead of next winter's Milan-Cortina Games. The 74-year-old Buonfiglio, who has been president of the Italian Canoe and Kayak Federation since 2005, was the candidate supported by outgoing CONI president Giovanni Malagò. Advertisement Malagò, who is leaving the presidency after 12 years and three terms, remains president of the Milan-Cortina organizing committee. Buonfiglio was elected in the first round after receiving 47 of the 81 votes. Luca Pancalli, who led Italy's Paralympic Committee for a quarter century, received the remaining 34 votes. Franco Carraro, the 85-year-old former International Olympic Committee member who ran as a peacemaker, didn't get any votes. During his pre-vote speech, Carraro said he was 'very concerned' that Buonfiglio and Pancalli led groups of voters who were strongly opposed to each other but told his supporters that they were free to vote for either of those two candidates. Buonfiglio was also a CONI vice president from 2013-18. ___ AP Olympics:
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
AJ Ginnis, former U.S. Ski Team athlete, to be first 2026 Olympic torchbearer
AJ Ginnis, former U.S. Ski Team athlete, to be first 2026 Olympic torchbearer Greek Alpine skier AJ Ginnis, a world slalom silver medalist and former U.S. Ski Team member, will be the first torchbearer of the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympic torch relay that starts Nov. 26. Ginnis, who eyes his Olympic debut in February at age 31, will receive the flame in the ancient Olympic site of Olympia, Greece, to start the torch relay. A Greek athlete traditionally is the first torchbearer before an athlete from the Olympic host nation. Advertisement 'It is a great honor for me, something that I never imagined as a child," Ginnis said, according to the Greek Olympic Committee. The relay will culminate at the Feb. 6 Opening Ceremony at the San Siro Stadium in Milan. The relay typically spends multiple days in Greece, the birthplace of the Olympics, before moving to the host nation. For Milan Cortina, the Italy portion of the relay will start Dec. 4 in Rome. Ginnis, 30, missed most of last season due to knee surgery. In 2023, he earned what is believed to be Greece's first world championships medal in any Winter Olympic program event when he took slalom silver. Advertisement The best Greek finish in any event at a Winter Olympics was 13th in women's skeleton in 2002. Ginnis previously raced for the U.S. at the 2017 Worlds, then was dropped from the national team after the 2017-18 season following several injuries and a best World Cup finish of 26th at the time. He switched to his birth nation of Greece, where he had learned to ski at Mount Parnassus, a 2 1/2-hour drive from Athens. He moved to Austria at age 12 and then Vermont three years after that. Ginnis has undergone at least seven knee surgeries in his career. He tore an ACL in summer 2021, ruling him out of the 2022 Winter Games. Advertisement He thought he was done with ski racing when he went to Beijing to work the 2022 Olympics for NBC. 'When I came back, I told myself, my goal is to go into the next Olympic cycle being a medal contender,' he said at the 2023 Worlds. 'Fighting back from injuries, getting cut from teams, trying to fundraise for what we're doing now. ... This is a dream come true on every level.' NCAA Photos Archive The Ivy League school that's intertwined with the Winter Olympics How Dartmouth put an athlete on every U.S. Winter Olympic team.
CNA
18-06-2025
- Sport
- CNA
Alpine skiing-Hirscher cleared for another World Cup comeback at 36
Alpine ski great Marcel Hirscher could be on for an Olympic comeback at the age of 36 after being cleared to return to the World Cup as a wildcard following his recovery from a serious knee injury. The 2018 double Olympic gold medallist, and winner of a record eight overall World Cups as an Austrian, last October ended five years of retirement to compete for his mother's country the Netherlands. He suffered a cruciate ligament tear in December and underwent surgery but announced in a video on his Instagram account on Wednesday that, 197 days later, he was ready to go again. "Rehab was going on quite well, and now we are back in athletic training. This is super fun, being back a professional athlete again," he said. "I heard FIS made a decision that I am allowed to take my 17 (unused) starts from last year's season into the upcoming season. So that means I'm ready for another season (of) ski racing. And I think now you can call it a comeback." While Hirscher would have no chance of making the Austrian Olympic team, a superpower in the sport, the Netherlands offers a far easier route to Milan-Cortina 2026 if he can stay clear of injury. He entered only three races last year, with a best result of 23rd in a giant slalom in Soelden, Austria, leaving him 17 unused wildcards. The World Cup allows former top skiers to return as wildcards without having to secure qualifying points. U.S. skier Lindsey Vonn, now 40, is also hoping to ski at the Olympics after returning to the World Cup as a wildcard last season. "In the end, two questions remained: What do I want from life? What does life want from me?" said Hirscher, winner of 67 World Cup races. "Even in difficult moments, my answer never changed: I want to race again." Hirscher, who plans to return to snow training in September, said he also wanted to compete again as an athlete to help his ski equipment company improve their racing skis and boots. The World Cup men's season starts on October 26 with a giant slalom in Soelden.
