Spectacular Farewell to the Games in Verona and International Debate on Costs

The 2026 Winter Olympic Games have passed into history, crowned in the early hours of Monday by a spectacular ceremony in the Arena di Verona. Foreign commentators, including journalists from French and German newspapers, did not spare words of praise for the prepared spectacle. „Un hommage à la beauté de l'Italie” (A tribute to the beauty of Italy) — Le Monde Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed immense emotion and pride in the national achievement, emphasizing the event's importance for the country's image. The extinguishing of the Olympic flame and the symbolic handover of hosting rights to the organizers of the next Games in the French Alps took place amidst ancient architecture, giving the event a unique character. The chorus of praise was only slightly tempered by remarks from Swiss SRF station journalist Stefan Hofmänner, who complained during the broadcast about the direction and form of the television coverage. The Games on the Apennine Peninsula were unique because, for the first time, such a broad model of dispersed organization was fully implemented, relying almost entirely on the modernization of existing infrastructure. This concept emerged in response to IOC guidelines aimed at encouraging candidates to limit gigantic budgets and avoid building so-called white elephants. However, the facade of visual triumph raises questions about the future of professional winter sports in Europe. The commercial success seems undeniable. Italian programs dominated the evening slots, while German stations, including ARD and ZDF, recorded a gigantic reach, reaching around 40 million unique viewers, which is half the country's population. Although digital metrics were record-breaking, it was the broad television reach that confirmed the undiminished interest in the Games in Germany. Despite this, the organizational model revealed its weaknesses. German press correspondence highlighted the travel inconveniences, recalling the Alpine realities of traveling away from main high-speed rail routes. Süddeutsche Zeitung quipped about a return to ice instead of modern train sets. The dispersal of disciplines also meant that journalists were searching for the former, condensed magic of the Olympic Village. From a sporting perspective, however, the event created historic moments. Italian sports icon, biathlete Dorothea Wierer, officially ended her career on the snowy tracks of her home Antholz in the emotional presence of her loyal fans. 105 mln — cumulative viewer contacts with broadcasts in Germany The dust settling after the Games highlights broader phenomena facing the entire Olympic winter movement. The Arab portal Al Jazeera, citing Swiss analyses, directly pointed to relentless climate warming as the greatest threat to sports based on frost. Simultaneously, in Germany, the debate concerning the financial burdens of individual disciplines is gaining strength. Criticism directed at the German Olympic Sports Confederation demonstrates a growing public rebellion against the enormous costs allocated from the state budget to win a single medal. While experts warn against writing off logistically demanding luge disciplines under the influence of growing economic pressure, the specter of rationalization cuts looms over decision-makers. The Italians certainly managed to put these discussions on hold for at least a few days with a charming spectacle on the Roman stage, satisfying the expectations of a multi-million global audience.

Perspektywy mediów: Highlights the ecological limits of winter sports and the need to cut unnecessary public expenditures inflated by the commercialization of the Games. Rejoices in the huge television viewership and the powerful success of the Italian conservative government, based on historical pride.