Milan-Cortina's 2026 Olympic Games' to rely on existing infrastructure – masterplan features one new venue
Milan-Cortina, which has been selected to host the 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics Games, has revealed the events will aim for a low carbon footprint, with the majority of facilities used being existing.
Milan-Cortina's bid received 47 out of a total of 82 votes cast by IOC members, with rival bid Stockholm-Åre receiving 34 votes, with one abstention.
The bids from Milan and Stockholm were the first to be produced since the publication of the IOC's sustainability policy, Olympic Agenda 2020/The New Norm, which was published in February 2018 with the aim of delivering "substantial benefits to the cities and their projects".
The Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics will rely largely on existing venues.
Out of the 12 competition venues, nine will be existing facilities, while two will be temporary builds.
One new competition venue will be built for ice hockey – an indoor, multi-use arena in the Santa Giulia district of Milan.
It will be built by property companies Risanamento and Lendlease and operated in partnership by Oak View Group and Live Nation.
As well as all the ice hockey games, the city of Milan will also host all skating competition, while alpine skiing events will take place in Cortina d'Ampezzo, 100 miles away.
Some snow sports events will also be held at Bormio and Livigno.
There has been an emphasis on lowering the costs of hosting Olympic events and IOC has conceded that cities should be allowed to use existing infrastructure, rather than always investing in new stadiums and facilities.
This led to the two bid plans for 2026 using 93 per cent existing of temporary venues, compared to 60 per cent among the candidates for the Olympic Winter Games 2018 and 2022.
In addition, the initial Games operating costs projected by Milan and Stockholm – at approximately US$400m – were around 20 per cent lower than those of candidates for the 2022 games.
Speaking after the result was announced, IOC President Thomas Bach said: “With this project aligned with Olympic Agenda 2020, we have seen how we can also lower the complexity of the Games and how the use of existing facilities is facilitating sustainability and legacy goals. In this respect, the candidature of Milan-Cortina stood out, with 93 per cent use of existing or temporary facilities."
Milan-Cortina Oak View Group Live Nation Risanamento LendleaseAman sister brand Janu debuts in Tokyo with four-floor urban wellness retreat
€38m geothermal spa and leisure centre to revitalise Croatian city of Bjelovar
Two Santani eco-friendly wellness resorts coming to Oman, partnered with Omran Group
Kerzner shows confidence in its Siro wellness hotel concept, revealing plans to open 100
Ritz-Carlton, Portland unveils skyline spa inspired by unfolding petals of a rose
Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners are just one of the names behind The Emory hotel London and Surrenne private members club
Peninsula Hot Springs unveils AUS$11.7m sister site in Australian outback
IWBI creates WELL for residential programme to inspire healthy living environments
Conrad Orlando unveils water-inspired spa oasis amid billion-dollar Evermore Resort complex
Studio A+ realises striking urban hot springs retreat in China's Shanxi Province
Populous reveals plans for major e-sports arena in Saudi Arabia
Wake The Tiger launches new 1,000sq m expansion
Othership CEO envisions its urban bathhouses in every city in North America
Merlin teams up with Hasbro and Lego to create Peppa Pig experiences
SHA Wellness unveils highly-anticipated Mexico outpost
One&Only One Za’abeel opens in Dubai featuring striking design by Nikken Sekkei
Luxury spa hotel, Calcot Manor, creates new Grain Store health club
'World's largest' indoor ski centre by 10 Design slated to open in 2025
Murrayshall Country Estate awarded planning permission for multi-million-pound spa and leisure centre
Aman's Janu hotel by Pelli Clarke & Partners will have 4,000sq m of wellness space
Therme Group confirms Incheon Golden Harbor location for South Korean wellbeing resort
Universal Studios eyes the UK for first European resort
King of Bhutan unveils masterplan for Mindfulness City, designed by BIG, Arup and Cistri
Rural locations are the next frontier for expansion for the health club sector
Tonik Associates designs new suburban model for high-end Third Space health and wellness club
Aman sister brand Janu launching in Tokyo in 2024 with design by Denniston's Jean-Michel Gathy
The Peninsula London unveils Peter Marino-designed spa inspired by London’s famous parks
First glimpses revealed of Mandarin Oriental, Mayfair's subterranean spa retreat
"Architecture is alive" says Ma Yansong, as Shenzhen art museum opens exhibition showcasing work of MAD Architects
SHA Mexico to debut in January 2024 with genome-inspired design by Sordo Madaleno
Why shouldn’t sports facilities be beautiful? Across Asia, architects are creating landmark buildings for the public, discovers Christopher de Wolf