The Winter Olympic Games are built not only on snow and ice but also on strategic decisions that are rarely seen on screen. Months before Milano-Cortina 2026, difficulties in preparations have opened a space for reflection that goes beyond Italy and points directly to the future of the event. From this perspective speaks Johan Eliasch, president of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), one of the most influential voices in winter Olympism.
The Swedish official, leading a federation that oversees 55% of the Olympic program events, acknowledges that meeting deadlines has been a greater challenge than expected. His statements are not aimed at assigning blame but at warning that the obstacles encountered must be transformed into concrete lessons, especially in terms of planning, governance, and prioritization in an increasingly complex Olympic context.
Milano-Cortina as a reflection of organizational challenges
Eliasch’s remarks come shortly after the president of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Organizing Committee, Andrea Varnier, admitted that there is still work to be done before the February 6 opening ceremony. The territorial scale of these Games, spread across Lombardy, Veneto, and Trentino-Alto Adige, adds layers of complexity to an organization that must coordinate venues, infrastructure, and schedules across a large northern Italian region.
For the president of the FIS, this scenario highlights the need to review how the Winter Games are designed. It is not only about meeting deadlines but anticipating risks and adapting organizational models to broader geographic and social realities. In this sense, Milano-Cortina becomes a case study that could influence how future Olympic events are conceived.
Political neutrality and the identity of the Winter Games
Beyond logistics, Eliasch also focuses on the political dilemmas facing the Olympic movement. Following the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport to overturn the total exclusion of Russian and Belarusian athletes, several skiers from both countries are seeking qualification for Milano-Cortina. If successful, they would compete under a neutral flag, a model that the official considers necessary, though still insufficiently defined in terms of governance.
From his perspective, the Olympic movement needs a clearer and shared understanding of what political neutrality means as a guiding principle. This reflection connects with his vision of the Olympic program: Eliasch opposes adding summer-related disciplines, such as trail running or cyclocross, and advocates focusing on quality over expansion, noting that the Olympic Charter defines winter sports as those linked to snow and ice, during a IOC phase he perceives under more open and receptive leadership by Kirsty Coventry.
