OLYMPICS: ‘We are champions of the last minute,’ mayor of Italian host Bormio says

BORMIO, Italy – The scenic Stelvio ski slope in Bormio is coming alive with the sounds of construction as organizers set up viewing screens, lighting, and other facilities for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.

The town’s first Olympic event, the men’s Alpine skiing downhill, one of the Games’ most anticipated races, kicks off on Saturday.

Scenes of last-minute construction are not unique to Bormio. Cortina d’Ampezzo, another key venue, has also faced scrutiny over unfinished sites. But locals are confident the work will be ready in time.

Bormio Mayor Silvia Cavazzi said, “In Italy it is always like that, we are the champions of the last minute.” She added that Italians celebrate once the work is finally completed.

Boosting Bormio’s Profile

Andrea Varnier, CEO of Milano Cortina, addressed stereotypes about Italy at Tuesday’s International Olympic Committee session. “Many people say that Italians are exceptionally good at arriving at the last minute, at delivering important goals right on the finish line,” he said. “This may sometimes be true, but it is a stereotype I’ve never accepted.”

Despite the concerns, both Cavazzi and Varnier are confident the venues will be ready. For Bormio, hosting Olympic events brings international visibility, tourism, and recognition for a town that has been part of the World Cup ski circuit for decades.

“It is a story built up through 40 years of work,” Cavazzi said. “We have now arrived at this goal to have the Olympics.”

She also noted the symbolic importance of receiving a blessing from Pope Leo, calling it a meaningful gesture for her town. -Reporting by Marleen Kaesebier in Bormio and Karolos Grohmann in Milan/Reuters