Italy lands Winter Youth Olympics 2028

Article posted by Coliseum, February 17^th, 2025

Image: Olympics

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has picked Dolomiti Valtellina in the Italian Alps as host of the Winter Youth Olympic Games 2028.

The IOC said competitions will take place only in existing venues across three clusters in Valtellina, Trentino and Cortina, returning to some of the iconic sports venues that will be used for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.

The 2028 YOG will be part of the Milano Cortina 2026 legacy and will reinvest in communities with strong winter sports traditions. Dolomiti Valtellina 2028 will be the fifth edition of the Winter YOG.

The project is led by the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI), and the governments of the regions of Veneto and Lombardy and the Autonomous Province of Trento, supported by the Italian national government, and is in line with long-term plans to raise the regions’ profile as a winter sports destination.

The programme of the YOG, from 15 to 29 January 2028, will include all seven winter Olympic sports: biathlon, bobsleigh, curling, ice hockey, luge, skating and skiing.

Seven of the 11 proposed venues for the YOG will have been used in 2026 – Stelvio Alpine Skiing Centre in Bormio, Livigno Aerials and Mogul Park and Livigno Snow Park for freestyle/snowboard, Cortina Sliding Centre for bobsleigh, skeleton and luge, Predazzo Ski Jumping Stadium, Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium, and Cortina Olympic Stadium, for curling.

The programme also presents an opportunity to take competitions to venues that cannot be used in 2026.

IOC President Thomas Bach said, “The election of Dolomiti Valtellina 2028 is an expression of the IOC’s confidence in Italy’s ability to deliver world class, exceptional winter sports events. The Olympic Movement and the host regions are already excited about Milano Cortina 2026, with just over one year to go until the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The excitement will extend until the end of the decade, and the benefits for local communities will continue.”

Andrea Abodi, Italian Minister of Sport and Youth, said, “Italy is once again ready to put its heart, passion and expertise into hosting an event that will be not only a spectacular sporting occasion, but also a meaningful opportunity for growth for the entire nation.

“We aim to inspire the younger generations to embrace the value of sport as a tool for inclusion and social cohesion – a universal language capable of uniting cultures and nations, and fostering the diplomacy we so greatly need.”

Dolomiti Valtellina 2028 will be made possible, Abodi added, thanks to the full collaboration between the Government, the Lombardy Region, the Veneto Region, the Autonomous Province of Trento, and CONI.

He said, “The organisation of the Winter Youth Olympic Games will further showcase the infrastructure built by SIMICO – Società Infrastrutture Milano Cortina, leaving additional positive legacies in terms of sports facilities, educational programmes and social initiatives, which will continue to generate impact well beyond the closure of the YOG 2028.”

A festival of sport, arts and local culture will take place throughout 2027, until the Olympic Torch celebrations in December. During the YOG, festival sites will be operated in Bormio and Trento.

The YOG will provide a platform for young people to take on leadership roles, practise winter sports and adopt healthier lifestyles. A number of legacy ambitions will be extended from 2026 to 2028, including Milano Cortina 2026’s goal to encourage “More Movement”, for example by promoting 30 minutes of movement per day and by working with national federations to encourage youth participation in competitive sports.

Recent hosting of the Olympic Winter Games will enable efficiencies in areas such as venues, transport infrastructure, workforce and marketing.

The YOG will be governed by a specific Organising Committee with a Memorandum of Understanding with Milano Cortina 2026, to foster collaboration between the two entities.

CONI President Giovanni Malagò added, “Building on the remarkable legacy of Milano Cortina 2026, Dolomiti Valtellina 2028 will offer a unique opportunity to inspire the next generation, showcase the transformative power of sport, and set new benchmarks for global events.

“This significant achievement for our country has been made possible through the strong support of the national government, as well as the dedication of our regional and local partners. Italy and CONI have shown that we are reliable partners of the IOC, and together we will certainly deliver an unprecedented edition of the YOG.”

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