MILAN CORTINA 2026: GL EVENTS AT THE HEART OF A HIGH-MOUNTAIN OPERATIONAL CHALLENGE

For the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, GL events Italia was mobilised to fit out 19 venues located between Milan and several Alpine clusters, including Bormio, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Tesero and Predazzo.

Appointed as the main provider for temporary infrastructure fit-out, the Group supported the design, supply, installation, maintenance and dismantling of the facilities required for the smooth running of the Games. Temporary structures, modular buildings, temporary grandstands, media areas, sanitary units and technical equipment: the teams deployed their expertise in some of the most demanding environments on the international sports calendar.

The Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games project is one of the major structuring projects undertaken by the GL events Live division, following on from Paris 2024.
 

Antony de Oliveira, Project Director for the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games

How did GL events support the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Games

The scope entrusted to GL events Italia covered 19 venues, spanning urban infrastructure, mountain resorts, existing sports venues and Alpine spaces requiring fit-out. In Milan, the teams worked in particular on the Arena Santa Giulia, dedicated to ice hockey and Para ice hockey. In the Alps, they supported venues such as Predazzo for Nordic skiing and Nordic combined, and Cortina d’Ampezzo for women’s Alpine skiing.

This geographical spread required a highly decentralised organisation. Some venues were several hours apart by road, sometimes separated by mountain passes. Each site was therefore structured as an autonomous unit, led by a technical coordinator and local teams responsible for day-to-day operations: installation, operations, safety, cleaning, waste management and snow clearance.

This approach made it possible to maintain a high level of responsiveness in a context marked by significant logistical, climatic and operational constraints.

Why did this project mobilise several areas of expertise within the Group

Although operational management was led by GL events Italia, the project quickly took on an international dimension. From autumn 2024, an initial core team was formed to structure the technical response and launch the preparation phases. The expertise of several Group entities was then mobilised to address the project’s specific challenges.

This Franco-Italian cooperation was one of the key drivers of the operation. It enabled the project to be firmly anchored in the relevant territories, while drawing on the international experience acquired by GL events on major sporting events.

Beyond its technical dimension, Milan Cortina 2026 was also a structuring project for the teams. Following on from Paris 2024, the Group relied on its internal resources to pass on expertise, support skills development and entrust new responsibilities to several employees. Project managers broadened their scope of action, while younger profiles took on site coordination roles.

Milan Cortina thus acted as a genuine internal school for major international events, where experience is passed on in the field, as close as possible to operations.

What constraints did the teams face in high-mountain environments

The Winter Games involve very different constraints from those of the Summer Games. Installation volumes may be smaller, but the technical and environmental requirements are particularly demanding, especially at altitude.

The teams worked between 1,500 and 3,000 metres above sea level, sometimes in extreme conditions, with limited daylight, very low temperatures and access constraints specific to Alpine mountain ranges. These realities were factored in from the design and preparation phases.

The selection of structures, snow-load management, equipment protection, securing of access routes, daily maintenance and snow clearance operations all required constant attention. Regular weather monitoring made it possible to adjust interventions, deliveries and team organisation according to on-site conditions.

In this context, every technical decision had to meet a dual requirement: guaranteeing team safety and ensuring the reliability of the installations.

What examples illustrate the complexity of the project

One of the project’s most emblematic challenges was the fit-out of the changing rooms for the NHL teams competing in the ice hockey events. Fourteen changing rooms were completed in just six weeks, in an environment requiring close coordination between technical installations and ice management.

This example illustrates the level of precision required from the teams. Ice is a living element, requiring constant control of temperature and playing-surface conditions. In this type of environment, temporary installation cannot be considered in isolation: it must be integrated into a complete technical ecosystem, where each intervention can have an impact on the sporting use of the venue.

This ability to adapt methods, equipment and organisation to each sporting discipline was central to the mission carried out by GL events.

How were safety, compliance and responsibility integrated into the project

On an event of this scale and visibility, the challenges are not limited to infrastructure installation. Safety, security, compliance, risk management and environmental responsibility are integral parts of operational delivery.

The teams operated in sensitive Alpine environments, where preserving natural sites, managing waste responsibly, limiting the impact of interventions and respecting local territories were operational priorities. Technical choices were adapted to the realities of each venue, with particular attention paid to the assembly, operations and dismantling phases.

The preparation of the Games also benefited from the support of the Group’s cross-functional departments, particularly in the areas of security and compliance. On this type of major international project, risk anticipation, partner assessment, process security and support for project teams all contribute to ensuring robust execution.

How does Milan Cortina 2026 fit into GL events’ international sports experience?

For more than thirty years, GL events has supported major international sporting events, from the Olympic and Paralympic Games to World Cups, multisport competitions, international championships and major urban events.

Milan Cortina 2026 is part of this continuity. After Paris 2024, this project confirmed the Group’s ability to operate across very different formats, adapting its expertise to each context: urban venues, existing infrastructure, mountain resorts, undeveloped sites, Alpine environments and extreme climatic constraints.

Beyond technical performance, this project demonstrates the strength of the GL events model: bringing together complementary skills, mobilising multicultural teams, coordinating multisite operations and meeting the requirements of major international organisers.

Photos : © Madhi Aridj