IOC Chief Declares Milano Cortina Winter Olympics a Major Success

International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry praised the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics as exceeding expectations despite initial concerns. The Games marked the first time Winter Olympic events were spread across multiple Alpine regions rather than concentrated in one host city.

International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry delivered strong praise for the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics on Friday, declaring the multi-city format a resounding success that surpassed all expectations.

Speaking at a press conference in Milan, Coventry emphasized how the Games proved skeptics wrong about hosting events across multiple locations.

“These Games are truly … successful in a new way of doing things, in a sustainable way of doing things, in a way that I think many people thought maybe we couldn’t do, or couldn’t be done well, and it’s been done extremely well, and it’s surpassed everyone’s expectations,” Coventry stated.

This represents the IOC leader’s strongest public support yet for the innovative approach of distributing Olympic events across various Alpine locations instead of centralizing them in a single host city.

Coventry’s positive assessment follows two weeks during which event organizers worked to demonstrate that a geographically scattered Olympics could maintain consistent quality for athletes.

The successful execution comes after numerous years of logistical hurdles and political obstacles, including construction setbacks at Milan’s Santagiulia Arena and disputes over constructing a new sliding facility in Cortina despite IOC recommendations against it.

Event organizers also dealt with sporadic disruptions throughout the Games, including suspected railway sabotage and demonstrations in Milan related to housing and environmental concerns.

Worries about transportation between the spread-out venues were lessened by minimal cross-regional movement among spectators, although some athletes had to walk through heavy snow to reach the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium when weather conditions halted vehicle traffic.

Coventry highlighted that maintaining uniform standards across multiple athlete villages despite the geographic separation between venues from Cortina d’Ampezzo to Livigno and Bormio was key to the Games’ success.

Strong performances by Italian competitors also boosted ticket sales, which reached approximately 1.4 million.

“And the athletes are extremely happy. And they’re happy because the experiences that the MiCo (Milano Cortina) team and my team delivered to them have been the same,” she explained.

However, mixed relay silver medalist Tommaso Giacomel expressed disappointment about the lack of an Olympic village near the Antholz-Anterselva Biathlon Arena, noting that competitors were spread across different hotels in the area rather than housed together.

The Games featured dual opening ceremonies – a major event at Milan’s San Siro stadium and a smaller, more personal parade along Cortina d’Ampezzo’s Corso Italia, where athletes and fans could interact closely.

Coventry noted that athlete feedback indicated the more intimate venues sometimes created a better Olympic experience, citing the Cortina opening ceremony as an example.

The Zimbabwean official, leading her first Games as IOC president following 2025 elections, positioned Milano Cortina as a model for future host cities dealing with increasing costs and climate challenges, while recognizing that modifications will be needed.

“It allows us to really look at ourselves and look at the things that we have in place and how we’re then going to make certain adjustments for the future,” she said.

Beyond operational aspects, Coventry emphasized the Games’ broader significance, noting gender balance with women comprising 47% of competitors and worldwide participation as indicators of advancement.

“But it’s been an incredible experience and we’re all very proud to have gender equity playing a big role in the delivery of the Games,” she remarked, describing “tremendous Games” where athletes have “come together and shared in their passion”.

With the closing ceremony in Verona approaching, Coventry indicated attention would soon turn to a comprehensive review process, but stressed the main takeaway was already evident.

“So we look forward to doing that and to learning from all the incredible experiences that I think all of the stakeholders have had across these Games, across these past two weeks,” she concluded.