Covering 22,000 square kilometers across northern Italy, the Games will blend modern urban energy with the beauty of the Alps, aiming to deliver not just competition but a celebration of diversity, sustainability, and accessibility. The Seoul event featured remarks from Italian Ambassador to South Korea Emilia Gatto, Milano Cortina 2026 Organizing Committee CEO Andrea Varnier, and Olympic champion Kim Yuna. Popular TV personality Alberto Mondi served as an emcee.
Andrea Varnier, leading the Olympic organizing effort, outlined the vision behind Italy's approach. "It's a 22,000 square kilometer project. The largest and widest Olympic Games ever offered," he said. "As the ambassador said, we will showcase so many different things in just one edition of the Games."
He explained that sustainability has shaped every step of the planning process. "From the beginning, we chose not to adapt the territory to the Games, but to adapt the Games to the territory," he said. Instead of building new facilities, organizers are upgrading existing ones, many of which already host international events year-round. "That's sustainability," Varnier said. "You find knowledge, experience, and passion for the sport. It's not artificial."
The Italian public has embraced the Games, he added. "We will use around 18,000 volunteers and have received more than 120,000 applications. That's a powerful signal of national enthusiasm."
Kim Yuna, one of South Korea's most celebrated athletes and a gold medalist at the Vancouver 2010 Games, reflected on what the Olympics meant to her and why they still matter.
She also spoke about the growing visibility of women in sport. "More and more female players are joining sports," she said. "In recent Olympic Games, the ratio of male and female athletes was the same for the first time. I believe we'll see even more participation and leadership from women going forward."
For Kim, the Olympics are about more than medals. "The Olympics involve many roles. Athletes, doctors, referees, and technicians. It's like a drama of human life. I hope our players can share the experience of respect and cultural understanding," she said. "The Olympics are a dream stage. I hope the athletes bring their best and create the most meaningful moment of their lives."
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