— Published July 6, 2026

Lessons learned regarding the athlete and spectator experience

Milan-Cortina 2026 Focus

Photo: IOC.

The IOC's final report on the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games is now online. It contains figures, of course. More than 5,4 million spectators and visitors were recorded across the competition venues (1,3 million), the Fan Villages (600,000), and the torch relay (3,5 million). This is a clear indicator of popular success. The interest was shared worldwide, as these Games were watched by approximately 2,6 billion people. IOC President Kirsty Coventry emphasizes that this edition touched and mobilized " audiences from all over the world in an unprecedented way The report also highlights a number of lessons for the future of the Games.

Everyone misses Medals Plaza

Kristin Kloster, chair of the IOC Coordination Commission, addressed the issue during the Session at the end of June. The Milan-Cortina 2026 Games demonstrated that a decentralized model – spanning multiple regions, venues, and communities – is not only viable but also enables the successful organization of the Winter Olympic Games. It showed that the Games adapt to the host country, not the other way around. This is a fundamental shift that broadens the possibilities for organizing future Winter Olympic Games. " she assures. The authorities in New York and Lake Placid have confirmed it: the Italian model is a reference for a possible future bid.

« Milan-Cortina 2026 demonstrated that a dispersed model—with events taking place across multiple venues rather than in a single host city—is a viable approach for future organizers, one that takes into account the realities of winter sports and enables successful Games. By leveraging existing infrastructure and local capabilities for organizing the Games, this model reflects a broader trend whereby the Games must increasingly adapt to the host city, and not the other way around. ", the report points out.

However, improvements can be made. Despite generally positive feedback regarding the experience, accommodation, and food, athletes staying in hotels dedicated to a single sport reported lower levels of satisfaction with their overall Olympic Village experience: approximately 53% satisfaction for the single-sport sites, compared to 74% for those staying in the larger, more traditional villages. "We read throughout the pages. Several biathletes expressed the feeling that they were experiencing World Championships rather than Olympic Games. This is problematic given that the IOC has repeatedly emphasized that the athletes' experience is the top priority."

The report recommends identifying ways to connect athletes to the entire Games, through medal ceremonies and celebrations, for example. In a decentralized model, special attention must be paid to the joint design of athlete services, Olympic villages and celebration experiences to ensure that athletes at all venues benefit from both equitable support and a shared sense of belonging to a single edition of the Winter Olympic Games. "From this perspective, Medals Plaza should be viewed as a key platform for strengthening links between athletes and other stakeholders "The report emphasizes this point. The COJOP des Alpes 2030 is already aware of this, as it has reiterated its desire to reconnect with this moment of celebration and communion."

Inform the public better, and earlier

Another challenge posed by the dispersed Games is the spectator experience. 85% of ticket holders rated their experience as "good" or "excellent", which clearly testifies to the quality of the organization and the atmosphere that prevailed in the various host regions. "However, post-Olympic analysis shows uneven experiences in terms of spectator engagement." Elements such as fan villages and on-site programming were often developed late or watered down. according to the report.

Moreover, " The information available at the time of ticket purchase did not always provide a complete picture of travel times, accommodation options, and general travel conditions. Venues located in remote mountain regions often had limited services and accompanying activities, which impacted the length and quality of spectators' stays. The document recommends designing an integrated route for spectators This includes accommodation, transportation, access to venues, services, and activities for fans. It also emphasizes the importance of providing clear information about travel and accommodation well in advance to help spectators make informed decisions before purchasing tickets.