2026 Olympics: Interview with Professor Terrien from UNIL on RTS

During the Swiss Romande TV program Sport dimanche, Mickaël Terrien, professor at IDHEAP (University of Lausanne) and specialist in sports governance, highlighted the major issues of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games.

Prof. Mickaël Terrien IDEAP University of Lausanne https://www.unil.ch/idheap/fr/home.html

According to him, this edition marks "a strategic turning point" for the IOC:

«"We are no longer in the realm of mega-infrastructure projects, but in that of reasoned legacy."»

Terrien points out that more than 90 % of the already existing or renovated sites reduce the financial and environmental footprint, while responding to the criticisms made after Sochi (51 billion budget) and Beijing.

Asked about Switzerland's place in these Games, he believes that the Swiss delegation "has the potential for podium finishes in alpine skiing, snowboarding and hockey", but insists: "The real challenge for Switzerland is not only sporting, but also political: to observe how Italy manages a decentralized model, useful for preparing a future Swiss bid".

A €120 million bobsleigh track: ecological and sustainable for the 2026 Olympics?

For Terrien, Milano-Cortina 2026 will thus serve as a laboratory for modern Olympics: more understated, more regional and more connected to the local fabric.

Milan Olympic Games on Suisse-blog.ch

Interview with Camille Rast at the start of the 2025-2026 season