The CEO of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, Andrea Varnier, has admitted that the Games have cost significantly more than originally budgeted, with the organising committee operating under extreme financial and time pressures. Speaking at an International Olympic Committee session ahead of Friday's opening ceremony, Varnier confirmed that the initial $1.3 billion budget had surged to over $1.7 billion, with additional infrastructure costs of $3.5 billion in public funds.
Varnier described the journey as 'more arduous than initially imagined', citing both expected and unexpected challenges. He acknowledged that the financial situation of the organising committee had been 'extremely difficult' throughout the years, and conceded that the final event might not meet all original expectations. 'You will not find in these Games everything you might have expected or everything we originally wanted to have,' he said.
A major point of contention was the construction of a new sliding centre in Cortina, despite the original bid featuring existing or temporary venues. The International Olympic Committee had opposed this decision, advocating for the use of an existing facility in neighbouring countries. The new centre was built under tight deadlines, alongside the Santagiulia ice hockey stadium, which only underwent testing in January.
Varnier noted that the organising committee had to operate under emergency conditions, with 'extremely tight deadlines' and constant pressure. He highlighted the sliding centre and ice hockey arena as particularly demanding, stating they were 'delivered literally to the organising committee at the final breath at the very edge of every available deadline.' Despite the hurdles, he expressed hope that both venues would serve as outstanding legacies for the communities.
