1552: "Milano Cortina"

HistoryPodcastSportsNews
Written By JC

Interesting Things with JC #1552: "Milano Cortina" – Can the Olympics survive without billion-dollar stadiums? Italy’s 2026 Winter Games test a radical return to terrain over transformation.

Curriculum - Episode Anchor

Episode Title: Milano Cortina

Episode Number: #1552

Host: JC

Audience: Grades 9–12, college intro, homeschool, lifelong learners

Subject Area: Geography, Civics, Economics, Sports History

Lesson Overview

Learning Objectives:

  • Define what makes Milano Cortina 2026 different from previous Winter Olympic Games in terms of geography and infrastructure.

  • Compare past and current Winter Olympic hosting strategies regarding venue construction and financial sustainability.

  • Analyze the geographic distribution of Olympic event locations and its implications for infrastructure and budgeting.

  • Explain the historical significance of Cortina d’Ampezzo in Olympic broadcasting and winter sports.

Key Vocabulary

  • Milano Cortina (mee-LAH-no kor-TEE-nah) — The name of the 2026 Winter Olympics, co-hosted by multiple locations across northern Italy.

  • Cortina d’Ampezzo (kor-TEE-nah dahm-PEHT-tso) — A mountain town in the Dolomites that previously hosted the 1956 Winter Olympics.

  • Tofane (toh-FAH-neh) — A mountain group near Cortina known for challenging alpine ski courses.

  • Infrastructure (IN-fruh-struhk-chur) — The systems and facilities such as roads, railways, and buildings needed for an event or city to function.

  • Budget Overrun (BUH-jit OH-ver-ruhn) — When the actual cost of a project exceeds the initial financial estimate.

Narrative Core

  • Open – Milano Cortina 2026 breaks from tradition by spreading Olympic events across four northern Italian regions rather than concentrating them in a single city.

  • Info – Milan will host skating and ice hockey, while Cortina, Valtellina, and Val di Fiemme handle mountain events using existing facilities.

  • Details – This distributed model may help resolve a critical issue: every Winter Olympics since 1960 has gone over budget, sometimes by more than 100%.

  • Reflection – The episode asks whether this model can redefine what cities are capable of hosting the Games, balancing ambition with sustainability.

  • Closing – These are interesting things, with JC.

Square promotional image for Interesting Things with JC #1552, showing a calm alpine lake with a yellow lakeside hotel centered in the frame, backed by steep gray Dolomite mountains with patches of snow under a cloudy sky. The title “Milano Cortina” appears across the top.

Transcript

Interesting Things with JC #1552: "Milano Cortina"

Milano Cortina 2026 isn’t centered in one city. It’s one of the most geographically spread-out Winter Olympics ever, organized across four main clusters in northern Italy: Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo (kor TEE nah dahm PEHT tso), Valtellina, and Val di Fiemme. High-speed rail, highways, and existing infrastructure connect the sites, placing events where the terrain and facilities already support winter sports year-round.

Milan, Italy’s financial powerhouse in the flat Po Valley, hosts skating events, ice hockey, and the opening ceremony, planned for San Siro Stadium. Best known as a soccer venue, it’s being repurposed for the Olympics rather than rebuilt for them.

Roughly 255 miles, about 410 kilometers, to the northeast is Cortina d’Ampezzo, set high in the Dolomites among steep limestone peaks rising past 10,000 feet, around 3,000 meters. Cortina hosted the 1956 Winter Olympics, the first Winter Games ever broadcast on television, turning local mountain competitions into events seen around the world.

In 2026, Cortina returns to its core strengths. Alpine skiing takes place on the historic Tofane slopes. Sliding sports use the existing Cortina Sliding Centre. No large-scale new venues are required. Other events follow the same logic: biathlon in Antholz-Anterselva, freestyle skiing in Livigno, and cross-country skiing and ski jumping in Val di Fiemme, where those sports have long histories and permanent facilities.

This structure addresses a long-standing problem. Since 1960, every Winter Olympics has exceeded its original budget, often by more than 100 percent when adjusted for inflation. As costs have risen, fewer cities have been willing to bid, and several proposed hosts have withdrawn after public opposition or financial review.

Milano Cortina tests whether the Winter Olympics can remain viable beyond a small group of ultra-wealthy locations by relying on existing venues and regional infrastructure. If the model works, it expands the list of places that can realistically host the Games. If it doesn’t, that list narrows even further.

These are interesting things, with JC.


Student Worksheet

  1. What are the four main geographic clusters hosting the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics?

  2. Why is the use of existing infrastructure important for the 2026 Games?

  3. In what year did Cortina d’Ampezzo previously host the Winter Olympics, and what was historically significant about that event?

  4. Describe how the San Siro Stadium is being adapted for Milano Cortina.

  5. Why have fewer cities been willing to bid for the Winter Olympics in recent years?

Teacher Guide

Estimated Time:
45–60 minutes (core lesson), with optional extension activities.

Pre-Teaching Vocabulary Strategy:
Use a map of northern Italy to identify locations mentioned. Introduce key terms with pronunciation guides and real-world visuals (e.g., stadium images, alpine slopes).

Anticipated Misconceptions:

  • Students may assume all Olympics occur in a single city.

  • Some may think infrastructure always means new construction rather than repurposing.

Discussion Prompts:

  • Should more international events follow the “reuse and distribute” model of Milano Cortina?

  • How does geography shape access to global events like the Olympics?

  • What’s the trade-off between cost, tradition, and innovation in hosting major sporting events?

Differentiation Strategies:

  • ESL: Provide vocabulary cards with visuals and definitions.

  • IEP: Use audio recording of the episode with transcript support.

  • Gifted: Research other multi-city Olympics (e.g., 2028 LA Games co-hosts).

Extension Activities:

  • Create a travel itinerary connecting all 2026 Olympic venues by rail.

  • Analyze Olympic budgets over time in a math lesson.

  • Write a persuasive letter to the IOC supporting or criticizing this hosting model.

Cross-Curricular Connections:

  • Geography: Mapping Olympic sites.

  • Economics: Cost-benefit analysis of global events.

  • History: Evolution of Olympic hosting.

  • Civics: Public participation in funding decisions.

Quiz

  1. Which stadium will host the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics?
    A. Allianz Arena
    B. Olympic Stadium Rome
    C. San Siro Stadium
    D. Juventus Stadium
    Answer: C

  2. What year did Cortina d’Ampezzo first host the Winter Olympics?
    A. 1948
    B. 1956
    C. 1968
    D. 1980
    Answer: B

  3. What issue does Milano Cortina aim to address in Olympic planning?
    A. Lack of athlete housing
    B. Security risks in host cities
    C. Budget overruns and infrastructure waste
    D. Lack of international interest
    Answer: C

  4. Which area will host alpine skiing events in 2026?
    A. Milan
    B. Val di Fiemme
    C. Valtellina
    D. Cortina d’Ampezzo
    Answer: D

  5. Why is the distributed location model considered innovative for the Olympics?
    A. It introduces new sports
    B. It reduces political tensions
    C. It minimizes environmental impact by using existing venues
    D. It guarantees higher revenue
    Answer: C

Assessment

  1. Do you think Milano Cortina’s strategy of using multiple existing venues is a better model for future Olympics? Why or why not?

  2. How does Cortina’s Olympic history reflect changes in media and global broadcasting?

3–2–1 Rubric:

  • 3 – Accurate, complete, thoughtful

  • 2 – Partial or missing detail

  • 1 – Inaccurate or vague

Standards Alignment

Common Core State Standards (CCSS):

  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.9-10.2 — Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development.

  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.3 — Analyze in detail a series of events described in a text.

  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.WHST.9-10.2 — Write informative texts to examine a topic and convey ideas.

C3 Framework (Social Studies):

  • D2.Geo.5.9-12 — Evaluate how political and economic decisions influence cultural and environmental characteristics.

  • D2.Eco.10.9-12 — Use data to analyze the costs and benefits of public policies.

ISTE (Technology Integration):

  • ISTE 3a — Students plan and employ effective research strategies to locate information.

UK National Curriculum (Geography Key Stage 4):

  • GCSE AQA Geography: 3.1.3 Urban issues and challenges — Urban sustainability and public infrastructure.

IB MYP Individuals and Societies:

  • Criterion B: Investigating — Develop factual and conceptual knowledge through research into social, political, and economic factors.

Show Notes

Episode #1552, “Milano Cortina,” explores the unique geographic and economic model of the 2026 Winter Olympics, spread across four regional clusters in northern Italy. It examines how the use of existing venues, such as the historic slopes of Cortina d’Ampezzo and the San Siro Stadium in Milan, could redefine the future of large-scale international events. Students will consider how cost, legacy infrastructure, and geography play a role in major global decisions, fostering critical thinking about sustainability and civic planning.

References

JC https://jimconnors.org
Next

1551: “Birthplace of the Winter Olympics – Chamonix 1924 to Beijing 2022”