Milano Cortina 2026, LA28 and Brisbane 2032 provide updates to IOC Session on progress of preparations
Developments on venue masterplan for Milano Cortina 2026
During its update on the second day of the 141st International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session in Mumbai, India, the Organising Committee for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 described the state of preparations of its project and informed the IOC Members about developments concerning its venue masterplan.
Milano Cortina 2026 President Giovanni Malagò explained that the Organising Committee has to identify an existing and working sliding track to replace the plans in Cortina d’Ampezzo.
He said: “The government has informed us that it is considering the best and most sustainable option: to not go ahead with the sliding centre and move the sliding competitions to an already existing and working venue. As a result, Milano Cortina 2026 has to identify another venue outside Italy.”
The approach was welcomed by Kristin Kloster, Chair of the IOC Coordination Commission for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
“This responsible decision reinforces the position of the IOC that the construction of this venue needed to be reconsidered, as the post-Games legacy plans were not clear,” said Kloster.
“We welcome this decision, which builds on the Olympic Agenda 2020 direction that no permanent venue should be built if there is not a demonstrated legacy plan for it. We are very pleased with this very positive outcome. Not only for the Milano Cortina 2026 Games, but also for the Olympic Winter Games overall.”
Other progress updates were provided by Andrea Varnier, the Chief Executive Officer of Milano Cortina 2026. These included a newly defined brand identity, an education programme that has already reached more than 100,000 school students and the acquisition of more than 300,000 followers on social media platforms, from organic growth alone.
Opportunity for engagement at LA28
In addition to presenting its proposal for five additional sports in its programme, which was accepted by the IOC Session, the Los Angeles 2028 Organising Committee presented a report that focused on the opportunities for engagement over the next five years.
“We need to matter to those who matter to us,” said Casey Wasserman, Chairperson of LA28. “We will put on a Games that represents the world and celebrates the diversity and identity of our city.”
LA28 CEO Kathy Carter elaborated on the engagement activities that are already underway, with a focus on creating a healthy environment, economic empowerment and sports programmes for youth. She noted that the PlayLA programme eliminates economic barriers and welcomes young people from all communities of Los Angeles to access new Olympic sports and the first-ever public adaptive sports programme for kids.
The Chair of the IOC Coordination Commission for LA28, Nicole Hoevertsz, underscored the fact that anticipation surrounding LA28 is building up, as Paris 2024 will hand over the baton in less than a year from now.
“While the LA28 team continues to grow, so has the roster of commercial partners investing in the Games,” she said. “With ambitious goals, LA28 has announced just recently new domestic partnership deals with Eli Lilly (sponsorship) and Oakley (licensing), with a clear line of sight to securing new partners in key categories.”
Inclusion and sustainability at the core of Brisbane 2032 plans
Andrew Liveris, President of the Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee, outlined the priorities of the OCOG with just under nine years to go to the Games. These included championing Olympic Agenda 2020 and the New Norm, which enables increased flexibility in designing the Games, ensuring a legacy and securing commercial and financial success.
“We are committed to delivering ‘New Norm’ Games,” he said. “They will be centred on Games optimisation, through a fit-for-purpose delivery model that sees the needs of the region prioritised and the Games delivered in a cost-effective and commercially viable manner.”
“Inclusion and sustainability are at our very core,” he added.
Liveris cited the recently held FIFA Women’s World Cup hosted in Australia as an example of a successful event, triggering unprecedented levels of engagement and a transformational AUD 200 million commitment by the Australian Government to women’s sport.
“They are losing no time, and extensive groundwork is already being undertaken to fulfil their ambitious vision: to use the Games to transform the lives of local communities,” said Kirsty Coventry, Chair of the IOC Coordination Commission for Brisbane 2032.
“The goal of using the Games to create more opportunities and access to sport in the region and for the individuals who call it home has the power to transform communities.”
Liveris also acknowledged the First Nations people of the lands on which Brisbane 2032 will be held, underscoring that First Nations people will be a central feature of the Games planning activities going forward.