Milano Cortina 2026: one year to go towards the winter Olympics. Celebrating the energy of sports and the value of innovation

The Olympic village in the heart of Milan will celebrate sporting values and accompany the entire city during the final countdown towards the 25th Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games.

Exactly one year before the start of the Winter Olympics and Paralympics, of which we will be the Electricity Premium Partner, the Milano Cortina 2026 Sport Village powered by Samsung & Enel comes to life in Piazza Duomo. It is a place to meet, discover and share and, until March 6, it will be possible to try out some Olympic sports such as hockey and curling, enjoy training and entertainment, and experience first-hand the unbreakable bond between sports, innovation and sustainability.

The ribbon-cutting event was part of a larger opening ceremony with the city of Milan’s Mayor Giuseppe Sala and Councillor for Sport, Tourism and Youth Policies Martina Riva. It included an evocative video-mapping show that illuminated the facade of the Palazzo dei Portici Meridionali and transformed it into a dynamic blend of Olympic spirit, art and technology.

In addition to immersing visitors in the unique atmosphere of the Winter Olympics and Paralympics, the Milano Cortina 2026 Sport Village powered by Samsung & Enel perfectly symbolizes our commitment to supporting sports as a means of connecting people, territories and communities. As the official Electricity Premium Partner of the Olympic Games, our Group is preparing to supply renewable energy at all 26 event venues, ensuring an efficient and sustainable supply thanks to an upgraded electricity infrastructure and the integration of state-of-the-art smart grids.

In fact, the partnership with Milano Cortina 2026 will include strategic investments to upgrade the power grid in the areas involved, with a modernization project that aims to make the infrastructure even more resilient and efficient. In particular, the start of the Games will be coupled with the construction of new primary substations, which will optimize the distribution of electricity in the areas where competitions will be held. At the same time, operations to upgrade and move the power grid underground will give rise to 100 km of new power lines, with the simultaneous removal of overhead sections that will help to reduce environmental impact and promote its seamless integration within the landscape. Moreover, thanks to an electricity monitoring system, perfect optimization of consumption and continuity of service will be guaranteed, even in the event of extreme weather events.

Through these investments, we want to leave a positive and lasting mark on the territories that will host the Games, promoting new models of clean energy that aim to create transversal value for local communities and enable new sustainable development opportunities for the economy and tourism. This is in line with the values of excellence, commitment and teamwork that turn sport into a universal language capable of inspiring the generations of today and tomorrow.