NEW YORK (UNITED STATES) (ITALPRESS) – The Milan-Cortina 2026 Foundation made a stop in New York to present economic, infrastructure and cultural opportunities related to the upcoming Winter Olympic Games. The event, hosted by the Consulate General of Italy on Park Avenue, is part of an international roadshow that touches eight strategic capitals, from Berlin to Beijing, via Paris, Vienna and Seoul. The mission is clear: to attract attention, investment and international collaboration to an Olympics that aims not only to celebrate sport, but to leave a concrete imprint on the territory, economically, environmentally and culturally.
Opening the evening was Consul General Fabrizio Di Michele, who stressed the geopolitical and symbolic value of the initiative: “These Games unite three regions in a single project. A strong message, also in light of the global context, where peace, cooperation and equality become strategic resources, not just ideals.” Milan-Cortina Foundation CEO Andrea Varnier, highlighted the numbers and potential of the event: “There are 312 days left and we are already half of the tickets sold. Milan-Cortina represents a new model for the Games: distributed, sustainable, rooted in Italian cultural heritage. It is an operational challenge, but also an extraordinary opportunity to innovate and build lasting value.”
THE INTERVIEW WITH CONSUL DI MICHELE
A concept echoed by Lombardy Region Vice President Marco Alparone, who called Milan-Cortina “a laboratory of Italian excellence, capable of combining sport and development. We are focusing on smart infrastructure, reuse of existing facilities, green technologies: we want every euro invested to produce a concrete return for citizens, today and tomorrow.” Nicola Polito, Coo of Trentino Marketing, recalled the weight of the tourism and sports economy in the local productive fabric: “Trentino is ready to welcome the world. Sport is not only passion, it is an economic engine, it is work, it is quality of life.”
CEO VARNIER’S WORDS
The evening, moderated by journalist Mario Calvo-Platero, a profound connoisseur of the transatlantic economy, highlighted how the Games can become a flywheel to boost Italy’s image in the world, strengthening business partnerships and foreign investment. Gene “Tiger” Sykes, president of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, and two U.S. sports stars-Olympic skating champion Sarah Hughes and three-time Paralympic ice sledge field hockey gold medalist Declan Farmer-also brought their testimonies. Two concrete examples of how sports can turn into a lever of inspiration and inclusion. Milan-Cortina 2026 thus presents itself overseas not only as a sporting event, but as a showcase of Italy that invests, innovates and looks to the future.
– Photo xo6/Italpress –
(ITALPRESS).
