Italy Bids Farewell to Winter Olympics: Spectacular Closing Ceremony and New Standards in Verona

The Winter Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo have gone down in history as an event with an unprecedented organizational structure. The final act of the competitions took place in the Roman amphitheatre Arena di Verona, where the Olympic flame was officially extinguished amidst the glow of torches and modern light installations. World media, including from Germany, the USA, and France, emphasize that Italy demonstrated remarkable creativity by blending ancient heritage with modern television broadcast requirements. Although athletes such as Dorothea Wierer bid farewell to professional competition, the atmosphere in Verona was focused on celebrating Italy's logistical and cultural success. The Games returned to Cortina d'Ampezzo after exactly 70 years – the resort hosted athletes already in 1956, becoming a symbol of post-war reconstruction and the modernity of winter sports at that time. Despite widespread enthusiasm regarding the presentation, many commentators point to growing challenges. The model of „dispersed Games”, where competitions were held in venues far apart from each other, is seen as the future of mass events, allowing for the avoidance of building unnecessary infrastructure. However, critics point to transport problems and increasingly difficult snow conditions. Voices have emerged about a „festival of ice instead of ICE trains”, which impacts ecological and logistical issues. Political controversies also arose, including difficult debates over the return of Paralympians from Russia to international competition, which cast a shadow over the idea of pure sport. 22 tys. — spectators followed the ceremony at the Arena in Verona Summarizing the two weeks of competition, experts assess that Italy made a „bella figura”, meaning they presented themselves in the best possible light. The next Winter Olympics will be held in the French Alps in 2030, which already forces organizers to reflect on the sustainability of winter sports in the face of global warming. These challenges are becoming crucial for the International Olympic Committee, which must balance spectacle with increasingly stringent environmental protection requirements.