Italy boosts sports diplomacy ahead of Winter Olympic Games

Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani, said that Italy is investing decisively in sports diplomacy, considering it a key pillar of the country’s international action, with the Milan–Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at its core.

According to Tajani, the Winter Olympics being hosted by Italy represent a major global event that will bring around 3,500 athletes from more than 90 countries, competing in 304 sporting events, CE Report quotes Kosova Press.

The Games are expected to attract a global audience of about three billion people, while around 50 heads of state and government are expected to attend the opening ceremony. Tajani stressed that Milan–Cortina 2026 will not only be a sporting event, but also a project of development, innovation and vision for the future. With an estimated economic impact of €5.3 billion, the Games are expected to leave a lasting legacy in infrastructure and territorial development, while strengthening Italy’s international positioning through soft power.

For the first time in history, the Winter Olympic Games will be organized in a decentralized format, with two symbolic host cities—Milan and Cortina—and the involvement of the regions of Lombardy, Veneto and Trentino-Alto Adige, united by a sustainable and inclusive vision.

The organizational system foresees the involvement of around 18,000 volunteers and the creation of a dedicated diplomatic task force, including institutions, local communities and young officials. According to Tajani, this commitment demonstrates Italy’s ability to successfully organize events of global scale.

At Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, preparations for the Games have been accompanied by an integrated strategy that began two years ago with the creation of the “Office for Sports Diplomacy” and was developed through an international promotional tour across Europe, North America and Asia. The strategy has involved athletes, media and businesses, aiming to promote the host territories and strengthen Italy’s image as an innovative, sustainable and welcoming country.

The statement notes that the Games have been part of numerous international initiatives, including Expo Osaka 2025, business forums abroad and the Italian Sport Day Worldwide.

Tajani underlined that the Olympic Games embody universal values such as peace, respect and inclusion, recalling that Italy supported the adoption of the UN resolution on the Olympic Truce, also backed by the Holy See and the President of the Republic.

In an international context marked by conflicts and humanitarian crises, Italy, Tajani said, continues to engage diplomatically and humanitarily, including efforts for peace in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as assistance to countries affected by less visible conflicts, such as Sudan.

In this context, Milan–Cortina 2026 represents a unique opportunity to reaffirm Italy’s role as a builder of peace, growth and international cooperation, turning sport into a tool of dialogue and hope for the world.