Veronica Vecchi has promised that sustainability will be at the heart of the next edition of the Winter Olympics and Paralympics ©Getty Images

Milan Cortina 2026 Infrastructure Company chair Veronica Vecchi has promised that sustainability will be at the heart of the next edition of the Winter Olympics and Paralympics.

Speaking at the Green and Blue Festival in Milan, Vecchi said that sustainability goals did not mean that projects could not be delivered on time and within budget.

"The infrastructure plan is very ambitious," she said, according to Italian news agency ANSA. 

"Today we believe we cannot build infrastructure that is not sustainable.

"We are giving centrality to the sustainability of infrastructure with an additional effort not because of legislation, but its what we want to do.

Events at Milan Cortina 2026 will be spread out across a large area of northern Italy ©Getty Images
Events at Milan Cortina 2026 will be spread out across a large area of northern Italy ©Getty Images

"We want to show that it is possible to manage the complexity of the works and compliance with costs and times, without neglecting the sustainability aspect." 

Sport at the 2026 Games will be spread across a large area of northern Italy with more than 400 kilometres separating Milan and Cortina D'Ampezzo.

Major work includes installing a speed skating oval at the Fiera Milano Exhibition Centre in Milan, and a new sliding centre on the site of the old Eugenio Monti course in Cortina.