2026 Winter Olympics Tech

Andy Gravett
5 days ago
14 min read

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Architectural Orchestration and Technological Prototyping: A Comprehensive Analysis of the XXV Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026

The XXV Olympic Winter Games, encompassing the Milano Cortina 2026 cycle, represent a fundamental transition in the conceptualization of international mega-events. This shift moves away from the historically centralized, venue-intensive model toward a decentralized, digitally integrated framework that treats the entirety of northern Italy as a unified "intelligent" arena. Covering over 22,000 square kilometers across multiple autonomous clusters—including the metropolitan hub of Milan, the alpine center of Cortina d’Ampezzo, and the valleys of Valtellina, Val di Fiemme, and Anterselva—the Games rely on a complex interplay of cloud-native broadcasting, 5G telecommunications, artificial intelligence, and sustainable energy systems to maintain operational continuity. This report examines the technological underpinnings of Milano Cortina 2026, analyzing how these innovations facilitate high-performance athletics, enhance global fan engagement, and establish a permanent socio-technical legacy for the host regions.

The Strategic Imperative of Digital Infrastructure

The primary challenge of the Milano Cortina 2026 Games is the inherent geographical fragmentation of its venues. Organizers have described this edition as the most geographically dispersed Winter Olympics in history. Consequently, the traditional reliance on physical proximity has been replaced by a "connectivity-first" strategy. This approach is anchored by the TIM Group, acting as the Official Telecommunications Partner, which has implemented a massive infrastructure upgrade to provide ultra-fast fiber and 5G connectivity across all host territories.

Telecommunications and Edge Computing Frameworks

The deployment of 5G technology at Milano Cortina 2026 is not a standard commercial rollout but a targeted industrial application designed to support massive data throughput and low-latency transmissions in extreme alpine environments. TIM’s "extraordinary plan" involves the enhancement of the national transport network by more than 8,000 kilometers, providing redundant ultra-high-capacity connections of up to 100 Gigabits per second across all strategic locations, from the PalaItalia Santa Giulia to the Verona Arena.

At the San Siro Stadium, the venue for the opening ceremony, a dedicated 5G network features technology unique in Italy that increases download speeds by 500%. This capacity is essential for managing the concurrent demands of 75,000 spectators and the wireless broadcast environment. The infrastructure is supported by a workforce of over 1,000 specialized technicians available 24/7 to manage a fleet of 10,000 4G/5G routers and SIM cards used for Games-time operations.

Infrastructure Component	Specification / Technical Detail	Primary Operational Utility
National Transport Network	8,000+ km fiber enhancement	Redundant 100 Gbps backbone for all clusters
San Siro Dedicated 5G	500% download speed increase	High-density spectator data management
Mobile Hardware	10,000+ 4G/5G routers & SIMs	Organizational and staff communication
Athlete SIM Deployment	3,600+ specialized SIM cards	Dedicated athlete connectivity and support
Operational Support	1,000+ 24/7 technicians	Rapid response and network maintenance
Network Redundancy	Dual-path 100 Gbps links	Zero-failure broadcast and scoring support

This infrastructure serves a dual purpose. During the Games, it ensures that data-heavy applications, such as real-time scoring and AI-enhanced replays, can function without latency. Post-Games, it transitions into a permanent asset for local communities, fostering the transformation of mountain areas into "smart lands" and cities into "smart cities". This legacy focuses on promoting tourism and enabling new digital services for citizens and businesses, thereby justifying the significant capital expenditure required for such a widespread rollout.

### The Evolution of Cloud-Native Broadcasting

Milano Cortina 2026 marks the complete shift of Olympic broadcasting from satellite-centric distribution to a cloud-primary model. Building on the milestones established at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) and Alibaba Cloud have deployed the "OBS Live Cloud 3.0" platform as the primary method for remote broadcast delivery. This transition is motivated by both technical efficiency and sustainability goals, as cloud infrastructure reduces the physical footprint and financial burden of hosting the Games.

The volume of content planned for 2026 is unprecedented, with OBS set to produce more than 6,500 hours of coverage—a 550% increase from the 2006 Winter Olympics. This includes 900 hours of live competition and ceremonies, captured through 810 camera systems and 1,800 microphones. The move to the cloud allows the International Broadcasting Centre (IBC) to be significantly smaller than in previous years; by the 2028 Games, the IBC is projected to be 38% smaller than it was at Rio 2016.

One of the most significant innovations in the 2026 cycle is the virtualization of the Outside Broadcast (OB) van. Traditionally, venues required massive, hardware-heavy trucks to manage local production. At Milano Cortina, virtualized OB vans are deployed at three specific venues—speed skating, curling, and the sliding center. These systems replace physical hardware with cloud-based control centers, allowing production teams to operate remotely and reducing the on-site energy requirements for cooling and power.

Broadcast Metric	Milano Cortina 2026 Implementation	Comparative Advancement
Total Coverage	6,500+ hours across all platforms	550% increase vs. Torino 2006
Live Competition	900+ hours of live content	Most comprehensive Winter Games coverage
Broadcast Personnel	5,000 professionals from 90+ nations	Diversified global production team
Distribution Method	Alibaba Cloud (OBS Live Cloud)	Primary delivery over satellite
Media Assets	5,000+ short-form digital pieces	Largest volume of ready-to-use digital content
UHD Feeds	26 ultra-high-definition streams	Enhanced visual fidelity for 39 broadcasters

The "Content+" service, powered by Alibaba Cloud, enables rights-holding broadcasters (MRHs) to access live sessions, athlete interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage instantly from any location globally. This democratization of access allows smaller broadcasters to provide professional-grade coverage without the need for heavy upfront investment in satellite links or dedicated transmission lines.

Artificial Intelligence: The "Intelligent Olympics" Paradigm

Milano Cortina 2026 is the inaugural edition of the "Intelligent Olympics," where artificial intelligence (AI) is integrated into every facet of the event, from fan engagement to broadcast analytics and internal operations. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has introduced its first large-language-model-based system, utilizing Alibaba’s Qwen models to power a new generation of "Olympic AI Assistants".

AI in Viewer Engagement and Storytelling

The use of AI in broadcasting focuses on transforming raw athletic data into immersive stories. Alibaba Cloud and OMEGA have introduced an upgraded "Real-Time 360º Replay" system that uses AI algorithms to separate athletes from visually complex backgrounds, such as ice and snow. This technology allows for the three-dimensional reconstruction of key moments in as little as 15 to 20 seconds, making it fast enough for live broadcast use during alpine skiing, figure skating, and ski jumping.

A new feature known as "Spacetime Slices" allows viewers to see multiple phases of an athlete's movement in a single composite image. This is particularly useful in disciplines like figure skating and freestyle skiing, where understanding the technical nuances of a rotation or jump requires visualizing the trajectory over time. Furthermore, AI-powered graphics display real-time race positions in speed skating and biathlon using color-coded lines, providing instant clarity on who is leading and the margin of difference.

AI Feature	Provider	Core Functionality
Olympic AI Assistant	Alibaba Cloud (Qwen)	Conversational multilingual support on olympics.com
OLI Logic System	NBCU / Google Gemini	Personalized scheduling and results for US fans
Automatic Media Description	OBS / Alibaba	AI-powered tagging and summarization of video
Real-Time 360º Replay	Alibaba / OMEGA	Instant 3D reconstruction of athlete movement
AI Highlights System	OBS	Automatic generation of clips for 16 disciplines
Biathlon AI Spotlighting	OBS	Personalized coverage of national athletes in lanes

The "Automatic Media Description" (AMD) system represents a significant leap in operational efficiency. By automatically identifying athletes, generating event descriptions, and tagging video assets, the system reduces the manual labor previously required for media management. Broadcasters can now use natural-language queries—such as "find the figure skating gold medal performance"—to retrieve specific clips almost instantly from a library of over eight petabytes of historical media.

AI in Fan Personalization and Support

Beyond the broadcast, AI is used to manage the fan experience. NBCUniversal has brought back "OLI," an AI-powered logic system now enhanced by Google Cloud’s Gemini LLM. OLI serves as a true viewing guide for fans in the United States, providing real-time schedule updates, athlete profiles, and personalized video highlights based on the viewer’s preferences and time zone.

For on-site fans and athletes, Samsung has integrated "Galaxy AI" into its latest devices to facilitate communication. A select group of volunteers is equipped with Galaxy devices featuring the "Interpreter" app, which provides real-time, on-device translation. Because the translation is processed locally on the hardware, it remains fast and reliable even in the distributed and sometimes connectivity-challenged alpine environments of Milano Cortina.

High-Performance Biomechanics and Athlete Technology

In the 2026 Games, technology is not just an observer of athletic achievement but an active participant in it. The concept of the "hyper-connected athlete" is realized through the deployment of lightweight, non-intrusive sensors that provide high-resolution data on human movement.

Precision Sensing in Winter Sports

Swiss Timing, a sister company of OMEGA, and researchers from ETH Zurich have unveiled advanced wireless sensor systems designed to provide instant feedback during competition and training. In ski jumping, three tiny sensors positioned on the athlete’s boots, goggles, and legs measure take-off force, air speed, and the center of gravity while in flight. This data is used to optimize the "flight phase," with machine learning algorithms providing immediate feedback via a vibration motor in the athlete's boot to signal necessary postural adjustments.

Sport	Sensing Technology	Data Tracked
Ski Jumping	Boot and leg sensors	Take-off force, velocity, center of gravity
Curling	Embedded ice sensors	Infraction detection and release timing
Figure Skating	Computer vision analytics	Jump height, rotation count, skeletal movement
Snowboarding	Motion sensors	In-run speed, airtime, height above ground
Speed Skating	Suit-integrated sensors	Hip-to-ice distance, turn-angle precision
Biathlon	AI camera tracking	Shooting lane data and athlete heart rate integration

In curling, the technology is embedded directly into the environment and equipment. The stones used in competition contain internal heat sensors that detect if a player holds the handle beyond the hog line. A red light on the stone indicates an infraction, while a green light signals a proper release. Sensors are also embedded into the playing ice itself to detect infractions and ensure fair play.

The Technogym Ecosystem and Performance Tracking

Physical preparation and recovery are supported by the Technogym Training Centre, which has provided over 1,200 pieces of equipment across the various Olympic Villages. Every cardio, strength, and functional machine is connected to the "Technogym Ecosystem," a cloud-based platform that allows athletes to track their data and progress seamlessly as they move between competition clusters.

The "Let’s Move Milano & Cortina" campaign extends this technology to the general public. From December 2025 through March 2026, anyone using the Technogym app can collect "MOVEs"—a standardized unit of physical activity—to contribute to a global health challenge alongside elite Olympic athletes. This integration of professional-grade tracking into a consumer-facing social platform illustrates the broader goal of using Games-time technology to inspire healthy lifestyles in the host nation.

Sustainability Engineering and Energy Resilience

Milano Cortina 2026 is the first Winter Games to be fully shaped by the Olympic Agenda 2020 reforms, which prioritize the use of existing venues and the reduction of environmental impact. Technology is the primary driver of this sustainability mandate, specifically in the areas of snowmaking, energy distribution, and the circular economy.

Biofuels and Decarbonized Power

A central pillar of the sustainability strategy is the use of HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) diesel biofuel, supplied by Eni. Produced at Venice and Gela biorefineries from waste and residues like used cooking oils, this biofuel offers a greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction of 70% to 80% compared to conventional diesel.

For the unique challenges of the alpine environment, Eni developed an "arctic" HVO diesel that ensures full operability down to -28°C. This fuel powers 250 electricity generators used for event operations and the buses used to transport athletes and spectators across the mountain clusters. Over 90% of the fuels supplied by Eni for the Games are derived from renewable feedstocks, marking a significant step toward the organization's goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.

The Olympic and Paralympic torches also reflect this commitment to sustainable materials. They are the first in history to achieve ReMade® Class A certification for recycled material content. The torch burner is fueled by bio-LPG from 100% renewable feedstocks, while the handle contains bio-based polymers derived from renewable raw materials.

Automated Snowmaking and Resource Management

As climate change creates increasingly volatile weather patterns in the Alps, the reliance on technical snowmaking has become a necessity for ensuring fair and safe competition. Milano Cortina 2026 uses automated, high-efficiency snowmaking systems that are integrated with GPS monitoring to track snow depth in real-time. These systems only activate when coverage drops below a specific threshold, cutting electricity use by approximately 30% compared to traditional manual methods.

The water used for snowmaking is managed through a closed-loop system that utilizes no chemical additives, ensuring that the snow remains environmentally neutral as it melts back into the ecosystem. This technology is essential for host regions in adapting to a changing climate while maintaining their winter sports heritage.

Sustainability Initiative	Implementation Detail	Target / Impact
Renewable Electricity	100% certified renewable sources	Zero-carbon power for all venues
HVO Biofuel	Arctic-grade HVOlution diesel	70-80% GHG reduction for transport/generators
Venue Reuse	85% of competition sites are existing	Minimal new construction footprint
Waste Management	70% separate collection goal	Effective recycling of 80% of packaging
Snowmaking	Automated GPS-monitored systems	30% reduction in electricity consumption
Circular Economy	Acquisition of used logistics assets	Reduced resource consumption and waste

The Circular Economy and Urban Legacy

The circular economy is prioritized through the acquisition of used logistics assets and medical equipment, an approach inspired by Paris 2024. Furthermore, the "Sustainability Protocol for Temporary Infrastructure," developed with the Politecnico di Milano, ensures that all structures used for the Games are designed for disassembly and reuse.

In Milan, the Porta Romana district is undergoing a transformation centered on the Milano Olympic Village. Built using "mass timber"—a low-embodied-carbon and renewable resource—the village is designed to be carbon-neutral in both construction and management. After the Games, these residential buildings will be repurposed into student housing and affordable residences, while the main square will become a public hub for the neighborhood.

Security, Robotics, and Autonomous Systems

The security of Milano Cortina 2026 is managed through an integrated framework of physical screening, cybersecurity monitoring, and robotic automation.

Integrated Security Ecosystems

Rapiscan, the Official Security Control Partner, has provided screening systems for vehicles, luggage, and individuals across all venues and Olympic Villages. These systems are designed for rapid and reliable checks in highly complex organizational contexts.

In the Cortina Olympic Stadium, Comelit Group has developed a fully integrated security ecosystem that combines video surveillance, intrusion detection, and emergency communication. The cameras use deep learning algorithms to identify key subject characteristics and perform line crossing and area intrusion detection. The "VEDO" intrusion detection system is cloud-connected, allowing for real-time video verification of alarm events via mobile applications.

Robotics in Action

Robotics are being used to enhance both cleanliness and fan engagement. At Milan’s Malpensa and Linate airports, Gausium has deployed its "Omnie" cleaning robots. These machines use 3D LiDAR and AI-powered navigation to operate safely in high-traffic environments, ensuring world-class cleanliness standards for the millions of visitors expected for the Games.

In the Milan Olympic Village, Alibaba Cloud has introduced an "Intelligent Pin Trading Station". This system combines a robotic arm with an AI vision system to allow athletes to trade Olympic pins using voice and gesture commands. This "light-touch" interactive experience is designed to reduce language barriers and foster social connection in the village plaza.

Furthermore, China Media Group (CMG) and Unitree Robotics have featured humanoid robots in promotional activities for the Games. A champion delegation of humanoid robots from the 2025 World Humanoid Robot Games visited Milan to demonstrate breakthroughs in logistics sorting and human-robot interaction, showcasing the future of robotic assistants in real-world scenarios.

Cybersecurity and the Technology Operations Centre

The ACN (National Cybersecurity Agency) of Italy has deployed a comprehensive system to secure the Games against AI-driven cyber threats. This effort is centralized in the "Technology Operations Centre" (TOC) in Milan, where a team of 100 Deloitte specialists and 300 technicians monitor the digital environment 24/7. The strategy is proactive, involving the monitoring of criminal ecosystems to anticipate threats such as the blocking of official websites or the interruption of broadcasts.

Digital Engagement and Fan Experience Technologies

Fan engagement for Milano Cortina 2026 is built on a "digital-first" marketing strategy that prioritizes centralized ticketing and immersive virtual access.

100% Digital Ticketing and Biometric Access

Milano Cortina 2026 is the first Winter Games to offer 100% digital ticketing. This model, managed through a single official platform, is designed to limit fraud and illegal resale. The official "Tickets MilanoCortina2026" app is the only valid tool for venue access.

The ticketing system uses secure QR codes that only appear on the digital ticket 24 hours before the session start time. Fans must log in with an "Olympic ID," and random checks are carried out at venue gates to ensure the identity of the ticket holder matches the digital credential. This system allows for the seamless transfer of tickets to family and friends while maintaining a secure audit trail.

Digital Tool	Provider / Platform	Primary Function
Tickets MilanoCortina2026	Fondazione / TicketOne	Secure purchase, resale, and venue access
Official App	OCS / Fondazione	Practical guides, news, and real-time relay tracking
VenueTwin	OnePlan	3D virtual tour of competition venues and villages
Transport App	Fondazione	Wayfinding and shuttle info for staff/volunteers
OVP Video Player	OBS / Alibaba Cloud	Professional HD streaming for smaller broadcasters
Interpreting App	Samsung / Fondazione	Real-time translation for on-site communication

Digital Twins and Virtual Navigation

To assist stakeholders and spectators in navigating the complex geography of the Games, the organizing committee partnered with OnePlan to create "VenueTwin," an immersive 3D web platform. VenueTwin offers hyperrealistic digital twins of all competition venues and the Olympic and Paralympic Villages.

NOCs (National Olympic Committees), athletes, and broadcasters use this platform to plan logistics, run virtual walkthroughs of venues, and simulate real-world weather and lighting conditions. This "single source of truth" allows for greater efficiency in event planning, reducing the need for on-site site visits and thereby lowering the carbon footprint of the preparatory phase.

The Socio-Technical Legacy: Shaping the Future of Northern Italy

The technology of Milano Cortina 2026 is ultimately designed to leave a lasting impact on the host regions. This "legacy" is not just physical infrastructure but a new model for how technology can support regional resilience and socio-economic development.

Smart Lands and Energy Resilience

In mountain regions, upgrades to the electricity distribution systems, favoring renewable energy, are strengthening local energy resilience. This infrastructure hardening is essential for rural towns that face increasing risks from climate-driven disruptions. The focus on "smart grid" technologies—including AI-driven situational awareness and next-generation distribution automation—ensures that power remains reliable even under peak loads.

Transportation and Sustainable Mobility

The "Olympic and Paralympic Transport Plan" (OPTP) serves as a catalyst for sustainable mobility habits. By integrating rail services with public transport and dedicated shuttle systems (such as those provided by BusForFun), the Games aim to reduce car use by 20% compared to Torino 2006. The expansion of the Dolomiti Bus fleet with hybrid and high-efficiency vehicles provides a long-term improvement to public transit in the Belluno province.

Human-Centric Innovation

Finally, the technology of Milano Cortina 2026 emphasizes the "human element". From Samsung’s "Interpreter" app supporting volunteers to the "Gen26" education program and the "Team26" volunteer platform, technology is used to empower people and foster a sense of belonging. This approach ensures that the "Intelligent Olympics" remain, above all, about people and their connection to the values of sport and community.

The XXV Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 demonstrate that technology is no longer just a supporting tool but the foundational architect of the modern Olympic movement. By weaving together advanced telecommunications, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and sustainable engineering, these Games provide a definitive blueprint for the future of global sporting events in an increasingly complex and climate-affected world.

Works cited