Italy Olympics: Transport Challenges as Games Spread Across North

Logistical Challenges Mount as 2026 Winter Olympics Approach

MILAN, Italy – As the 2026 Winter Olympics draw near, logistical hurdles are becoming increasingly apparent, potentially overshadowing the athletic competitions themselves. The Games, slated to begin on Friday, February 6 and run through February 22, will be hosted across seven sites, making it the most geographically dispersed Olympic event in history.

While Italian authorities have emphasized the environmental benefits of spreading the Games’ footprint, the complex transportation demands are proving to be a significant challenge. Robert Steiger, a professor at Innsbruck University in Austria specializing in the effects of climate change on tourism, noted that “the more fragmented the venue layout, the more complex the mobility demands – not only for athletes and officials, but especially for spectators, who generate the largest transport volumes.”

The potential for spectators to opt for private vehicles is a major concern. Andrea Gibelli, head of the local branch of Italy’s state railways, stated in November that “the real challenge will be to offer a service that can compete with private transport,” adding that the “first instinct” for many will be to drive.

Organizers are urging spectators to utilize public transportation, with increased train, metro, and bus services planned, particularly in Milan. However, access to the mountain venues presents a greater difficulty, as there is no high-speed rail link comparable to the one used for the 2022 Beijing Olympics.

The journey for a spectator traveling to Cortina d’Ampezzo from Venice Airport, for example, involves a multi-stage trip: a bus to Venice train station, a regional train, another bus, a walk to a ski lift, and finally, a walk to the slopes. A planned cable car to ease access to Cortina has not yet been completed.

Despite the challenges of public transport, car travel is likely to remain a faster option for many, despite the risk of traffic congestion, limited resort access, and the need for reservations.

Infrastructure Delays

Italy has committed €3.5 billion (US$4.1 billion) to infrastructure improvements for the Games, focusing on roads and railways. Transport Minister Matteo Salvini has been regularly inaugurating new infrastructure projects. However, many of these projects, intended as a lasting “legacy” of the Olympics, will not be finished for several years.

As of January 22, only 40 of the 95 planned projects – including sports facilities – had been completed, according to the Olympic works delivery company Simico. Two small tunnels providing access to Cortina from the plains were opened on January 26 after significant delays. The tender process for a 1.5-kilometer tunnel intended to improve access to the Longarone valley has only recently begun.

A new road bridge between Milan and the Bormio-Livigno hub, where ski and snowboard competitions are scheduled, was inaugurated in mid-January, but only one of its two planned lanes is currently open. The Swiss canton of Graubuenden, through which many spectators will travel to Bormio-Livigno, has requested four million francs (4.4 million euros) from Lombardy to help manage traffic and parking.

Strikes and Travel Disruptions

Travel to the Games could be further complicated by ongoing labor disputes. A train strike took place from 3am on Monday, February 2 to 2am on Tuesday, February 3, reducing train services across Lombardy and Milan. According to Trenord, the strike impacted regional, suburban, long-distance, and airport services. While rail services operated during “guaranteed” time slots and replacement bus services were provided for airport connections, the strike highlighted potential disruptions for spectators.

The official Olympic website states that public transport is expected to run with extended hours and increased frequency during the Games, including trains, metro, and local services, especially in Milan.

Kirsty Coventry, the president of the International Olympic Committee, acknowledged the complexities of the dispersed Games format, stating, “I believe we made the right decision in opting for a more dispersed Games, but that has… created additional complexities.”