MILAN — Nick Thimm traveled to Milan last week as a board member of the talent agency CAA, tasked with navigating a jam-packed itinerary filled with hockey games and strategic meetings with top-tier sponsors during the Winter Olympics. His journey took him and a colleague four and a half hours north to Livigno, a picturesque resort town, where Thimm’s client, Scotty James, was set to compete in the men’s snowboard halfpipe event.
Thimm observed a stark contrast in energy between Milan and Livigno. “Milan is amazing, but it just doesn’t have that Olympic energy,” he noted in a phone call. The 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics are introducing a new hosting concept termed “Giochi diffusi,” or spread-out Games. While this approach offers unique benefits, it also presents significant challenges. Stretching over 13,000 square miles of Northern Italy, the Olympics resemble a series of simultaneous competitions rather than a cohesive event, limiting accessibility for athletes, fans, and local communities alike.
Thimm described Livigno as embodying a quintessential Olympic spirit: “It has that Lake Placid kind of small-village feel, with Olympians walking around in their team uniforms, and stunning views of the mountains.” In contrast, the hub of the Olympics in Milan lacks palpable signs of the grand event, with major venues such as hockey and figure skating located far from central tourist attractions, allowing day-to-day life to proceed with minimal interference.
The spread-out hosting model aims to be more sustainable, relying on existing infrastructure to ease transportation and accommodation strains. Giovanni Malagò, the president of the Milan Cortina organizing committee, emphasized the importance of showcasing Italy’s rich culture and identity through this model, encouraging global spectators to explore the various venues.
This new format represents a significant test for future global sporting events. Following the 2026 Olympics, the upcoming FIFA World Cup will span multiple time zones and countries. Similarly, the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles will disperse events widely, with some taking place in distant states. However, the Milan event lacks a well-planned transportation infrastructure, making it difficult for reporters and athletes to traverse between events efficiently, drawing criticism about the loss of the Olympics’ vibrant atmosphere.
Despite the logistical hurdles, Thimm noted positive feedback about the spread-out model, which is fostering learning opportunities for the organizers. Kirsty Coventry, the newly elected IOC president, highlighted the valuable insights the committee is gaining from this unique experience, indicating that the complexities are being managed effectively.
Athletes have expressed mixed feelings regarding the distribution of venues and athlete villages. Some, like U.S. figure skater Amber Glenn, have lamented missing out on opportunities to interact with peers from other sports. The IOC is cognizant of these sentiments, acknowledging that distance between venues could hinder athlete camaraderie.
The medical logistics for Team USA have also been notably impacted, as each of the six athlete villages necessitates independent medical operations, increasing the challenge of staffing and supply planning.
Future global sporting events are unlikely to uniformly adopt this dispersed model, as seen in the forthcoming 2034 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, which will feature a compact setup, keeping all venues within a short driving distance of the capital.
As discussions about future competitions circulate, Thimm indicated enthusiasm for the upcoming Olympic prospects. He mentioned having conversations with James about future Olympic aspirations, especially looking towards France 2030, reinforcing the ongoing drive and spirit of competitive athletes. “Salt Lake four years later is the one I’m really looking forward to,” he expressed, suggesting a hopeful outlook for more centralized Olympic experiences in the future.