The accounts of the Milan-Cortina 2026 organizing committee are the subject of much discussion in Italy. The body recorded a loss of €30,5 million in 2024, bringing its total deficit to €150 million. While revenues have increased (from €26,4 million to €72,7 million), production costs have skyrocketed in parallel. However, its leaders are not particularly concerned. While substantial revenues are expected in 2025 and especially 2026, the organizing committee has also received a major boost from the government, via a decree that is not unanimously accepted on the other side of the Alps.
A fragile balance
The famous "sports decree" was approved in particular in order to bring " concrete and urgent responses so that Italy is ready to face the major events it will host in the coming months ", said the Minister of Sports and Youth, Andrea Abodi. It will release around 394 million euros, which will greatly ease the accumulated debt.
In detail, a special commissioner for the Paralympic Games will receive a compartmentalized envelope: 79,3 million euros for services (security, logistics, etc.), 112 million excluding VAT for " organizational activities of a fungible nature, the costs of which were therefore not included in the budget » from the Milan-Cortina Foundation, and 190 million excluding VAT for “ the purchase of non-fungible services directly from the Foundation (resulting in increased revenue for the Foundation itself) ».
In its financial report, the COJOP estimates that " the content of the plan allows us to conclude (…) that the Foundation will be able to recover the accumulated capital deficit " An optimism not necessarily shared. At the beginning of July, the Court of Auditors of the Veneto region announced his doubts about the financial situation. " If the conditions for financial balance are not met at the end of the last multi-annual cycle, the negative impact on the finances of the various entities concerned, including the Veneto region, will be inevitable. “, she recalled.
Several MPs also pointed out that « The government is acting as lender of last resort to cover the costs associated with the construction of infrastructure for the Milan-Cortina Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games " and « le budget The 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympic Games, presented as “zero cost” for the economy and the environment, has in reality risen from decree to decree " Among other things, because the government wanted to rehabilitate the Cortina ski resort at all costs, while The IOC recommended relocating the events concerned to an existing site abroad.
The anger of anti-mafia associations
In this context, another controversy arose when voices denounced the allocation of 43 million euros from the Solidarity Fund for Victims of the Mafia and Usury to finance the Winter Games. No resources are withdrawn ", assured Undersecretary of State Matilde Siracusano, arguing that this sum corresponded to an unused surplus, with the aim of providing equipment and housing to the police force during the event.
Anti-mafia associations, including Libera, described the decision as " unacceptable ", believing that this money should instead be directed towards medical and psychological assistance, scholarships, and more generally support for victims. The association La Tazzina della Legalità considers that these resources are " vital for families affected by irreparable tragedies, now stolen to fund housing and equipment for law enforcement during a sporting event " Another stone in the shoe of those responsible for these Winter Games.
