Cortina d’Ampezzo is showing the Winter Olympics in everyday life, with snow and Olympic symbols visible as the 2026 Milan Cortina Games draw closer, while Milan has a less obvious presence of the event, residents and visitors described as they navigated the two host hubs. The contrast, several people said, reflects how the Games are spread across regions rather than concentrated in a single city.
In Cortina, which sits surrounded by the Dolomites, people described a wintry buildup that includes flags marked “Cortina 1956 2026” hanging on wooden homes and the Olympic cauldron near the church in the town center. During a gray Wednesday afternoon in Milan, while umbrellas were up because of rain, the article described Cortina as having heavy snow and a more immediate sense of Olympic preparation in quieter moments around the town.
Sam Durante, who traveled from Calgary with his wife Melissa to cheer on their daughter—goalkeeper for the Italian ice hockey team—said he did not think Milan’s lower Olympic visibility was the city’s “fault,” but that the structure of the Games makes it feel less connected. “I just think it’s the structure of the Games and trying to be economic by spreading it out to different regions,” Durante said, adding that it “makes sense” but “creates a bit of a disjointed Games.” He said the couple had a more intense atmosphere during the Calgary Games, when events were closer together.
Faizan Mohammad, a 31-year-old insurer from Milan, described the Olympics as something he feels primarily in the form of disruption. He said he “don’t really feel at the moment that the Olympics is happening,” describing it instead as “more as an inconvenience at the moment because of the various road closures.” Mohammad said he expects the situation to improve when events begin and he can see more “sport and competition,” “happiness,” and less disruption.
The article also described the physical layout of the venues as a key factor for Milan’s less noticeable build-up. It said Milan’s venues for ice hockey, speed skating and figure skating are on the outskirts of the city and far from each other, contributing to what some residents and visitors said felt like a thinner Olympic presence in the rest of Milan. In Milan’s main square in front of the imposing cathedral, a countdown clock and Olympic-themed street lights appear along an Olympic boulevard that runs from the main train station to the fan zone and cauldron.
By contrast, people in Cortina described excitement that extends beyond the presence of Olympic symbols. Matthew Greiner, an American luger, said the atmosphere in Cortina is “electric,” while Italian luger Leon Felderer described “always good vibes” and said “everybody’s happy.” Felderer said he feels more at home in the mountains than he would in a large city, and he said he was “very glad” that the track is in Cortina.
Francesca Alberte, who works at the Golden Goose boutique, said she saw an air of excitement in Cortina but also “some trepidation.” Alberte said construction at the venues was not finished even as athletes and fans were arriving, and she said, “We are a little bit afraid for a lot of things that are not ready, but we’re happy and excited for this event.” She said locals love Cortina for the Dolomites views and for being a small town with “everything.”
The article described Cortina’s shopping street as lined with stores selling cashmere, designer clothes and high-end ski gear, and included examples of Olympics-related items in shop windows. It reported that a long, green women’s snow jacket retailed for 750 euros (about $885 U.S. dollars) and that a men’s ski outfit retailed for 700 euros (about $826 U.S. dollars). It also described visitors and athletes comparing Cortina’s feel to Alpine destinations such as Vail or Aspen.
In Milan’s main shopping and transport hubs, several details pointed to a more subdued Olympic build-up. In the center, the countdown clock and a corridor toward fan areas exist, but beyond those spaces the article described few signs of the Games. Meanwhile, in Cortina, people described that the town’s atmosphere—shaped by heavy snow, pine trees and last-minute preparations—made it easier to feel the Olympics arriving.
American alpine ski racer Jackie Wiles said she liked Cortina and described the feeling of walking through town as winter-themed and warm for visitors. “Whatever happens in the race, you just love being in the Dolomites. Walking through town, everyone has fur coats on,” Wiles said. Holding an umbrella to keep snow off her gray fur coat, Milan resident Mariella Mariani walked around Cortina with her husband to see the setup for the Olympics, and she said the Games would benefit both locations and that “It’s an important event for our country.”