To commemorate the one-year countdown to the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, the Olympic Studies Centre (OSC) has made available a collection of publications by organising committees from past editions held in Italy. These include Cortina d’Ampezzo 1956, Rome 1960 and Turin 2006.
In addition to collecting documents related to the upcoming winter event, the OSC has digitised historical materials such as daily programmes, regulations, bid files, official reports and athlete directories. These publications allow us to explore the evolution of the Olympic Games and the history of Italy as a host nation.
MORE THAN 260 HISTORICAL PUBLICATIONS
“The documentation of the Olympic Organising Committees represents a fundamental part of the written legacy of the Games. Ensuring its preservation and accessibility is one of our key missions,” said Maria Bogner, Director of the OSC of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
The Italian editions collection includes more than 260 publications, making it a comprehensive resource for researchers and enthusiasts. “We know that, as the Milano Cortina 2026 Games approach, interest in past editions is growing. With our digitisation efforts, we hope people can easily find what they need,” added Bogner.
DOCUMENTS IN THE WORLD OLYMPIC LIBRARY
This project is part of a broader initiative by the OSC to make its library more accessible globally. Currently, of the more than 40,000 publications it holds, 15,500 documents are already available online through the World Olympic Library.
“In addition to supporting decision-making and policy formulation, our services aim to promote education and research on the Olympic Games, the Olympic Movement and its impact on society,” Bogner explained. “Acquiring relevant publications and providing access to unique and rare collections are essential pillars of our work,” she concluded.
OSC ALSO DIGITISING OLYMPICS IN THE USA
In anticipation of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, the OSC has digitised documents from editions held in the United States, including St. Louis 1904, Lake Placid and Los Angeles 1932, Squaw Valley 1960, Lake Placid 1980, Los Angeles 1984, Atlanta 1996 and Salt Lake City 2002.
