Italian FM Tajani: ‘We are building peace’ through the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano–Cortina

Italy is making the 2026 Winter Olympics a centrepiece of “sports diplomacy”, framing the Milano–Cortina Games as a platform for peace, innovation and long-term development, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said in an interview published on 6 February 2026.

2026 Winter Olympics as soft power and an economic legacy

Tajani said Milano–Cortina 2026 will be a major global event, bringing 3,500 athletes from more than 90 countries to compete in 304 events, with an estimated worldwide audience of three billion people. He also said the opening ceremony would welcome around 50 Heads of State and Government.

Beyond sport, he argued the Games represent “development, innovation and a forward-looking vision”, citing an estimated economic impact of €5.3 billion and a lasting legacy in infrastructure and territorial development. In his framing, that legacy is also diplomatic: the Games are intended to strengthen Italy’s international positioning through soft power.

A ‘diffuse’ Olympics across northern Italy

A key political message, Tajani added, is that for the first time the Winter Games will be organised in a “diffuse” format: centred on Milan and Cortina while involving wider territories including Lombardy, Veneto and Trentino-Alto Adige, tied together by a sustainability and inclusion agenda.

He also pointed to the scale of participation behind the scenes: around 18,000 volunteers, plus a diplomatic task force designed to bring together young officials, institutions and local communities.

An integrated sports diplomacy strategy

According to Tajani, Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has backed the arrival of the Games with an integrated strategy launched two years ago, including the creation of an Office for Sports Diplomacy and an international roadshow across Europe, North America and Asia involving athletes, media and businesses.

He said the strategy has aimed to promote the host territories and strengthen Italy’s image as “innovative, sustainable and welcoming”, linking the Olympics to international showcases such as Expo Osaka 2025, business forums and “Italian Sport Day” initiatives abroad.

Olympic Truce and ‘Games of peace’ message amid global conflict

Tajani argued that the Olympics can remain a credible space for dialogue in a world shaped by conflict, describing the Games as a universal symbol of peace, respect and inclusion.

He also cited Italy’s role in facilitating the adoption of a United Nations General Assembly resolution on the Olympic Truce for Milano–Cortina 2026, presented as an appeal for sport to help “silence the weapons”. Recent reporting has linked the Olympic Truce call to diplomatic appeals around the Games’ start, including a Vatican message urging respect for the tradition.

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For foreign readers: what is Milano–Cortina 2026?

The 2026 Winter Olympics (Milano–Cortina 2026) are Italy’s first Winter Games to be held not in a single compact host city, but in multiple locations across northern Italy. According to Tajani, the aim of the project is not only to showcase elite sport, but also to develop infrastructure, introduce Italian regions to the world, and strengthen Italy’s diplomatic image through “sports diplomacy.”

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