Chris Jones provides an update from Italy ahead of the Milano Cortina Olympics.
The atmosphere at San Siro on Sunday night was vibrant, with continuous singing long after Inter Milan’s victory over Bologna, as the enthusiastic home fans showed their support.
As the same stadium prepares to host the Opening Ceremony on Feb. 6, Olympic organizers are hoping for a similar level of excitement.
The question remains whether this soccer-centric city, home to Inter and AC Milan, will embrace sports like hockey and figure skating during the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics.
With venues scattered across four different areas in northern Italy and sluggish ticket sales among locals, the outlook for the upcoming Olympics appears subdued.
In Milan, the presence of the Olympics is minimal, except for the ongoing construction at the Milano Santagiulia hockey arena, drawing some unfavorable attention.
A temporary store at the renowned Piazza del Duomo is the lone reminder of the forthcoming excitement, yet the towering Christmas tree in the square seemed to captivate the weekend visitors more.
The city’s other event venues are temporary and located at a distance. Assago, to the south, will host figure skating and long track speed skating. Meanwhile, Fiera Milano in Rho, far to the west, will accommodate a second hockey rink and short track speed skating, resembling a vast exhibition center that was quiet on a Sunday, except for passing trains.
Aside from the Milano Santagiulia arena, the only purpose-built facility in Milan is the athletes’ village, one of six across northern Italy. These Olympics will not have curlers mingling with hockey players or freestyle skiers sharing breakfast conversations with lugers.
Opinions among locals about Milan’s housing are divided, with some appreciating the elegance of the sharp-cornered apartment blocks, while others find them cold and reminiscent of Soviet architecture.
One Google review dubbed it “Milanograd.”
Despite differing opinions, the village is nearly finished, with a man seen on Sunday morning inspecting the buildings. Construction barriers still surround the village, but each apartment window is adorned with promising white curtains.
In smaller co-host cities like Cortina and Livigno, the Olympics are expected to feel more intimate and festive, set against stunning backdrops of the mountains that are already complete and picturesque.
However, in Milan, lacking snow and with numerous other attractions, the focus remains on the intense Serie A title battle between Inter and AC Milan.