Winter Olympics, 5.3 billion economic impact on territories

In view of the 2026 Winter Olympics - of which it will host speed skating and ice hockey competitions in two renovated pavilions - Fiera Milano has organised the 'Ice Hockey Playground', an event open to the public from 3 to 5 October, which transforms Piazza San Babila into an Olympic arena where citizens and tourists can take part in free synthetic ice hockey training sessions and play with the athletes of the Milan women's ice hockey teams.

The Games are not only a sporting event, but also represent an opportunity for the development of the cities and territories that will host them: with more than 5.3 billion euro of estimated economic impact for Lombardy, Veneto and Trentino-Alto Adige - of which 1.1 billion is for immediate spending on the territory during the Games, 1.2 billion for tourist flows in the following 12-18 months and 3 billion for infrastructure value - the Games are already an engine for the present and the future ready to welcome more than 2 million visitors, with a global audience of 3 billion people.

Fiera Milano, on the occasion of the Milan Cortina 2026 Games, assumes a role of great importance in the organisational context of the event. In fact, in addition to being the official partner of the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Fiera Milano will be the protagonist as the Olympic venue, hosting the speed skating and ice hockey competitions, as well as hosting activities for the media and international delegations. This is a strategic role for Fiera Milano, which, besides being an international platform for business and culture, is also a space capable of hosting sporting events of global importance, leaving a concrete legacy for the city and for the new generations.

Precisely with this objective in mind, Fiera Milano is organising Ice Hockey Playground by Fiera Milano, an event open to the public from 3 to 5 October, which transforms Piazza San Babila into an Olympic arena. For three days, citizens, families and tourists can take part free of charge in synthetic ice hockey training sessions, learn the rules and play together with the athletes of the Milan women's hockey teams, Valchirie and Devils Milano. A window that anticipates the Games, bringing the values of sport, community and inclusion into the beating heart of the city.

The initiative, which has the patronage of the Milan City Council's Department of Sport, Tourism and Youth Policies, is also the occasion for the launch of the 'Unlock the Olympic Winter Games' prize competition, which offers as prizes - every day - tickets to watch the ice hockey and speed skating competitions, disciplines that will be hosted right inside the Olympic venues built in the exhibition centre.