Giovanni Malagò, President of Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026, shared his insights with Peace and Sport a few days before the start of the Milano Cortina Olympic and Paralympic Games. This global sporting event is also, for him, a way to show that Italy can leverage sport as a vehicle for development in many other aspects.

With less than a month to go before the start of the Milano Cortina Olympic Games, how are you feeling?

I am very calm. Of course, with less than 25 days to go before the start of the Olympic Games, there is a lot of pressure, but that is part of the game when you are organising such a major event. That is the reality. Every day is important, and what matters is the quality of the work carried out with the International Olympic Committee, the government and the local authorities. Collaboration and dialogue with all stakeholders are excellent.

 Is Italy ready to cheer on this major winter event on home soil?

Absolutely! Even before the opening ceremony, you can already see that the whole country is buzzing with excitement about this adventure. The Olympic torch relay is the perfect example. The Olympic flame is travelling across the country for 63 days, passing through Italy’s 110 provinces in 21 regions, stopping each day at a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Italy has the honour of being the country with the most such sites.

This torch relay is not just a symbolic moment, it allows the population to truly embrace these Games and creates shared memories. Wherever the flame passes, there is a sense of pride, especially among young people. It gives the feeling that the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Games are much more than just a sporting event. The aim is to celebrate our regions, our culture and our passion for sport.

Finally, and this is important to note, Italy has a long tradition of excellence in organising international events. It is ready for these Games.

“Sport is a powerful catalyst for education and inclusion”

 “The Italian Republic recognises the educational and social value of sport in all its forms and its contribution to physical and psychological wellbeing”. Have these words, inscribed in the Italian Constitution since autumn 2022, changed perceptions of sport and its role in Italy?

The inclusion of sport in the Italian Constitution in 2022 marked a turning point for the country. There was a before and an after. It has been a long journey since 1948, when our Constitution was first established after World War II. The Constitution now recognises that sport is not just about competition, but also a powerful catalyst for education and inclusion, and an essential element of well-being.

Since 2022, we have emphasised these important points through several campaigns. And the figures on sports participation are rising. 65% of Italians now participate in sports. We still have work to do, but the figures are growing year after year. Italians are integrating sport into their lifestyles, and we are moving in the right direction.

The Olympic Games are an opportunity to promote the values of sport. Was it important for you to see the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopt the Olympic Truce?

I was present during the vote on the Olympic Truce, which is one of the fundamental traditions of the Olympic movement. It dates back to ancient Greece and sends a very powerful message to the whole world. Of course, sport alone cannot resolve political conflicts. But it can create opportunities for dialogue between nations.

The fact that 165 countries support the Olympic Truce during the Olympic and Paralympic period shows that there is a common desire to recognise the role of sport as a force for peace. We will see how this actually unfolds from 6 February onwards – the start date of the Olympic Games – but together with the IOC, we have laid the foundations for opening dialogue and perhaps experiencing a miracle, a historic moment.

For us, as organisers of the Games, it is also a reminder of our responsibility. The Games have a purpose: if they can help, even symbolically, to promote peace and inclusion, this will reflect the true values of Olympism.

This consensus resonates with the fundamental message of the Milano-Cortina Games: Harmony…

Harmony. This is the image we want to convey for our 2026 Games, and it is the theme of the opening ceremony on 6 February. We are all united behind this fundamental aspect of sport, which also perfectly describes Italian culture.

“We wanted to directly involve the younger generations throughout Italy”

 The Olympic flame is currently travelling around Italy. Why did you decide to introduce the “Olympic truce torchbearers”?

We believe in Olympism as a vehicle for peace, and we are expressing it through these torchbearers. It is not just symbolic; it brings together generations and cultures across the country. Throughout history, we have seen that sport can have an impact on society. These torchbearers are athletes, but they are also ambassadors from the worlds of culture, the arts, science, institutions, and more. Above all, they are ambassadors of peace thanks to what they have done in their lives. That is the most important thing, and that is why they have a special role to play in this torch relay.

The Milano Cortina Olympics will feature 47% women, 50 women’s events (a record) and 75% of disciplines with total parity (also a record). Is it important to set an example to promote gender equality, particularly with the Gen 26 programme?

Since the beginning of our journey, we have invested a lot of energy and benefited from financial support to develop the Gen 26 programme, as it is one of the pillars of sporting values. It allows us to directly involve younger generations throughout Italy. More than 2 million young people and over 1,500 schools have been involved in this project. It has enabled them to work on equality and inclusion in sport, but also in everyday life. We are very happy about this, as it is an opportunity to involve our young people in important projects that will make a difference in the future.

The Cultural Olympiad 26 and the support for projects through the Italia dei Giochi programme are also a way of promoting wider access to sport. Are you satisfied with these programmes and what they have achieved?

I wouldn’t say ‘satisfied’, but rather ‘boosted’ by these projects. Cultural Olympiad 26 comprises more than 20 initiatives that have reached 6.8 million people. And 1,481 school projects with 57,000 students involved. Looking at Roberto Bolle’s ‘OnDance’ project, for example, we could see that these events were an excellent way to bring culture and sport to everyone. It allows Italians to take part in a major event and create a community around these gatherings.

« La campagne #WhiteCard montre que le monde du sport peut s’unir pour être plus fort »

The Paralympic Games will follow the Olympic Games. There too, you wanted to raise awareness of parasport, particularly through the I’mPOSSIBLE programme…

We want the Olympic Games to be a real success, but at the same time, that success will not be complete if we are not able to do at least just as well at the Paralympic Games. The Paralympic Games are a huge opportunity to shine more light on parasport. That is why we are putting a lot of energy into programmes such as I’mPOSSIBLE. This programme, supported by our partner Procter & Gamble, raises awareness among younger generations about the history of the Paralympic Movement and the rights of people with disabilities. The programme has a real impact, as it enables young students to see disability in a new light. And that is exactly what we want to promote through the organisation of these Olympic and Paralympic Games.

In the past, you participated in Peace and Sport’s #WhiteCard campaign. From a personal point of view, are these commitments important to you?

Of course, all these causes are very important to me. Initiatives such as Peace and Sport’s #WhiteCard campaign show that the world of sport can unite to be stronger, speaking a universal language by bringing people together beyond political and social differences.

We want the same thing for the commitments we have made. Everyone needs to have this mindset, to have this desire for change in their blood. It’s not just about numbers. Enthusiasm and energy are essential to make all these projects a success.