The South Tyrol Arena in Antholz. © APA/afp / ODD ANDERSEN

A South Tyrolean perspective on the Olympics – 70 years later

Konrad Renzler is one of the few who have already been to Cortina d'Ampezzo: 70 years ago, when the Winter Olympics were held in the Italian Alps for the first time. The South Tyrolean was 18 at the time.

February 04, 2026

From: dpa/dl

Early in the morning, he and a few friends set off in their VW van from his home village of Antholz. Renzler watched the German national ice hockey team lose 0-8 against the eventual Olympic champions, the USSR. Since they didn't have enough money for an overnight stay, they headed straight back home afterwards.

On Friday, it's that time again: Cortina, which has transformed itself from a quiet mountain village into the "Queen of the Dolomites" with a reliably high number of celebrities, will once again open the Winter Games. This will be the 25th edition, long since a multi-billion-dollar event. Milan, Italy's fashion and financial capital, will also be participating. This means that for the first time, there will officially be two host cities at the Olympics. From 24 events in 1956, there have now been 116, and the number of participating athletes has increased from 820 to around 2.900.

Venues scattered far and wide across northern Italy

In fact, the Games aren't just taking place in Milan and Cortina, but, depending on the sport, are scattered across northern Italy: also in Bormio, Livigno, Verona, the Val di Fiemme (Fleimstal), and Antholz. The biathlon competitions are being held there. Renzler, now 88, still lives in the town of 3.000 inhabitants. However, the long-serving mayor is still waiting in vain for a ticket. The old man has become very critical of the Games, and he's not alone in that opinion in Italy.

The panorama at the Olympic Games is unique. © APA/afp / ODD ANDERSEN

“Seventy years ago, everything was still small and cozy,” says Renzler in the “South Tyrol Arena,” as the biathlon stadium is now called. “Today, it’s almost entirely commercial. Because people can never get enough.” The former mayor is by no means one of those who completely reject the commercialization of sports. During his term in office, between 1969 and 1980, he himself contributed to Antholz becoming one of the leading international destinations for biathlon. Now, many people here make a good living from tourism.

Former mayor: "The IOC dictates everything"

“But for the next few weeks, none of us will have any say, because the International Olympic Committee (IOC) dictates everything,” says Renzler. The old stadium, nestled in front of the 3.000-meter-high peaks of the Rieserferner Group, which has also hosted World Championships, could, according to general opinion, have been made suitable for the Olympics without much effort. Now, a concrete palace with tunnels and a bombastic floodlight system stands there, costing 58 million euros.

The Olympic rings in Antholz. © APA/afp / ODD ANDERSEN

An artificial lake was recently excavated for the new snowmaking system – even though the cross-country ski trails and shooting ranges at an altitude of 1.600 meters are actually snow-sure. Renzler finds it all too much. "When sport becomes a religion and athletes become gods, something is wrong." Elisabeth Ladinser, chairwoman of South Tyrol's umbrella organization for nature and environmental protection, simply says: "The god Mammon sends his regards."

The Stockholm region lost its bid in 2019.

But there are other voices, too. Gottfried Leitgeb, for example, clearly shows his excitement for the Games. The 69-year-old is wearing a ski hat with the five Olympic rings, hand-knitted by his wife. "We're proud of it, even if we won't have a say for two weeks. The Olympics at home are a once-in-a-lifetime experience."

Unlike in Germany, there were no referendums in Italy on whether the population wanted to host the Games. According to polls, a majority supported them. Thus, "Milano-Cortina"—the official name—prevailed over the Stockholm region in 2019. The mayor of Antholz, Thomas Schuster, believes that a clear majority is in favor of the Olympics. "But there are also a significant number of people who say, 'We'll just let it happen.'"

Bad experiences after Turin games

For many in Italy, the 2006 Turin Olympics serve as a cautionary tale. The ski jumps and bobsleigh track, built specifically for the event, are now decaying. The Olympic Village has been converted into second homes, most of which stand empty. Milan and Cortina won the Games in part by promising to utilize existing facilities instead of expensive new construction for the "most sustainable Games ever."

The fact that people now have to travel long distances to get from one venue to another doesn't fit with the overall picture. And despite the lofty promises, much was newly built – including two Olympic Villages, a "snow park" in Livigno, and new cross-country skiing facilities. The official costs amount to more than 3,5 billion euros. In return, a forecast by the Universities of Venice and Milan expects positive effects of 5,3 billion euros. Two million visitors and three billion television viewers are projected.

New ice rink in Cortina for 120 million euros

The biggest outrage arose because, despite all promises, a new track for bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton was built in Cortina for 120 million euros. Against the explicit recommendation of the IOC, the government in Rome pushed through the construction. At one point, there was also consideration of moving the competitions to existing ice tracks in Germany or Austria – but national pride wouldn't allow it.

The Olympic Village in Cortina. © APA/afp / ODD ANDERSEN

The new "Sliding Center," completed in record time, is receiving much praise. Elsewhere, however, construction workers are still busy, including in Milan and Cortina. The "Corriere della Sera" recently wrote: "It seems as if the Olympic Games are more of a concrete jungle than a sporting event. Construction sites everywhere. As if it were September and not January." Experience shows, however, that in Italy, almost everything is completed on time for major events.

Hopes for an Olympic atmosphere like in Paris

This would be good news for the future of the Winter Olympics. The previous three Games – Sochi in 2014, Pyeongchang in 2018, and Beijing in 2022 – are remembered for various reasons, but not fondly. Almost immediately after the Games in Russia ended, Vladimir Putin began his war against Ukraine in Crimea. In South Korea and China, it became clear that these are not traditional winter sports nations. Many complained about Games that felt artificial and lacked atmosphere.

But now the Games are returning to the Alps, where it all began in 1924. This last happened two decades ago. The hope is that the start of the competitions will recapture the Olympic spirit of yesteryear – similar to the 2024 Summer Games in Paris, which initially met with great skepticism but ultimately garnered widespread acclaim. As if on cue, heavy snowfall fell in the higher-altitude villages of the region.

In Milan, they're still busy with other things.

At the moment, however, there's not much enthusiasm to be felt – neither in Antholz nor in Cortina, and not even in rainy Milan, where the main opening ceremony will take place. In the city of 1,3 million, most people don't have a major objection to the Olympics, but are still preoccupied with other things. Besides, they're used to large events. Fashion Week, which also attracted a number of Hollywood celebrities, has just ended.

Piazza Duomo in Milan in its Olympic colors. © ANSA / SALVATORE DI NOLFI

In the enormous Olympic "megastore" in front of the cathedral, where souvenirs can be bought, things are still rather leisurely. The items aren't cheap. That's the norm these days. The medium-sized plush versions of the mascots Tina and Milo cost 50 and 60 euros respectively. A "retro down jacket" with the logo of the 1956 Cortina Winter Games will set you back 500 euros. It's a good thing Konrad Renzler, one of the few who was actually there back then, doesn't know any of this.