Budget and Funding
The 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics budget is projected to be less than the $28.9 billion spent on Sochi 2014, according to a 2024 Oxford University study. The total cost is €5,200 million (approximately $6.1 billion), with €3,500 million allocated for sports venue construction and road/rail infrastructure improvements by SiMiCo, the public entity overseeing Olympic works. The remaining €1,700 million ($1.99 billion) comes from the Milan Cortina 2026 Organizing Committee.
SiMiCo is funded by public money, while the Organizing Committee’s budget stems from ticket sales (1.6 million tickets for both Winter and Paralympic Games), national sponsorships, and contributions from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) through its TOP international sponsorship program and TV rights distribution.
The IOC’s minimum contribution is $925 million, as reported last week to AFP. For Pekín 2022 Winter Games, the IOC’s contribution was $970 million. The total cost will exceed €5,200 million as it doesn’t include security expenses borne by the Italian government or private developments like the Milan Olympic Village ($140 million) and Santagiulia Arena (hockey venue, $250 million).
Sports and Participation
During the Milan-Cortina Games, 16 sports across 8 disciplines will award 116 titles. Fifty of these gold medals will be for women, a record in Winter Olympics history. There will also be 54 men’s and 12 mixed-gender events among 2,900 athletes, with women making up 47% of participants—an unprecedented figure in Winter Olympics.
Medals weigh 420 grams for bronze, 500 grams for silver, and 600 grams for gold. Each measures 80 mm in diameter and 10 mm thick, designed to avoid issues like the rapid oxidation experienced by Paris 2024 medals.
Unique Aspects
- 24: Drones operated by OBS, the IOC’s broadcasting arm, for 6,500 hours of coverage, including 900 hours of live competition.
- 10,001: Torch relay bearers; following tradition, the flame was lit in Olympia, Greece on November 26 and arrived in Rome on December 4, covering 12,000 km across Italy before reaching Milán on February 5.
- 22,000 km²: The area encompassing “the most dispersed Games in history,” with venues spread across three northern Italian regions.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the total budget for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics? The total budget is €5,200 million (approximately $6.1 billion).
- Who funds the Milan Cortina 2026 Organizing Committee’s budget? The committee’s budget comes from ticket sales, national sponsorships, and contributions from the International Olympic Committee.
- What is the IOC’s minimum contribution for the 2026 Games? The IOC’s minimum contribution is $925 million.
- How many athletes will participate in the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, and what percentage will be women? 2,900 athletes will participate, with women making up 47%—an unprecedented figure in Winter Olympics history.
- What makes the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics unique? The Games will feature 24 drones for broadcasting, a 10,001-km torch relay, and be held across a 22,000 km² area with venues spread across three northern Italian regions.
