The Olympic Games will also be held in Antholz. © APA/afp / MARCO BERTORELLO

Antholz in the glow of the rings: “A small jewel”

In February 2026, the Winter Olympics will cast their spell over northern Italy - and especially South Tyrol. The biathlon competitions in Antholz are considered a showpiece, and CONI boss Alex Tabarelli believes the place is well prepared for it.

25 January 2025

From the South Tyrol Arena in Antholz

Building the infrastructure to host the Olympic Games is an enormous challenge. But unlike the previous Winter Games in Beijing, Pyeongchang or Sochi, the 2026 Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo will have an impressive foundation to fall back on - especially in Antholz. For decades, the venue has been able to impress in the World Cup and World Championships. The crowning glory is now to take place in the splendor of the Olympic rings.

“We have been working towards the Olympic Games for years,” said Alex Tabarelli in an interview with SportNews an insight into the preparations. As CONI President of South Tyrol, the Antholz location is of course of particular importance to him. "The facility is a little gem and is definitely one of the top 3 in the world."

Tabarelli: “The worst thing you can do...”

In order to ensure that this jewel is preserved in the future, the issue of sustainability has become a particular focus in recent years. After all, there are numerous places that could host a World Cup, but there are only nine dates in the calendar. The Olympic bid and the associated funding will now ensure that biathlon entertainment of the highest level can continue to be offered and that the facility will continue to be used.

The South Tyrol Arena in Antholz. © NordicFocus

"We have to work in a targeted manner, the means are limited," said Tabarelli, summarizing the course of action in this regard. "The worst thing you can do is build sports facilities without the necessary environment. The 2006 Olympic Games in Turin are the best example." The disused bobsleigh and luge track in Cesana and the now dilapidated ski jump in Pragelato are seen as a warning in this regard.

"We have strongholds in ice hockey, biathlon, alpine skiing and tobogganing - we have to start there and build facilities that will last. There are many types of sustainability. And this is one of them," Tabarelli continued.

Mobility? "World Cup 2020 is identical"

With regard to the upcoming major event in Antholz, mobility has recently been a sensitive issue. How will the masses of people be transported to the competition venue? Is there even a risk of traffic collapse? Tabarelli has a clear answer: everything will be as usual. "The 2020 World Championship in Antholz is identical. Due to the safety regulations, the numbers are limited, there will be the same number of spectators here as at a World Cup," he said, taking the wind out of the sails of any critics.

"The questions are more like: What happens to traffic in December? What happens here in the summer?" Alex Tabarelli

And anyway, the biathlon Mecca in Antholz is not the source of all evil. "After all, we are talking about an event that lasts about a week. If we are completely honest, Antholz would still be full," said Tabarelli. "The questions are more: what happens to the traffic in December? What happens here in the summer? It is not correct to say that the events bring traffic. In South Tyrol, one should perhaps consider whether tourism and the transport of goods are the cause of this."

Whether it's new train stations, tracks or bypass roads, the region should also benefit sustainably from the investments in infrastructure. "We even try to explain to people that they can come to Antholz without a car," says Tabarelli. "One or two ski resorts could try that too."