the winter olimpic games in verona Winter Olympics
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The Winter Olympic games

In one year time, from Feb 6th to Feb 22nd, 2026 the XXV Winter Olympic games will take place in Milano and Cortina.

December 10, 2024

Milano- Lombardy and Cortina d'Ampezzo- Dolomites will host the Winter Olympics and Paralympics 2026.

How comes that Verona is involved?
Verona is flat: no high peaks in town, no slopes, no ski tracks, no Olympic facilities here...

Despite that... we have an asset!
It is the oldest functioning Roman Arena in the world.
With a capacity of about 15.000, it has been designated for hosting the closing ceremony of said Olympics, as well as the Opening ceremony of the Paralympics 2026.

We can't wait of seeing our beloved and iconic Arena braodcasted worldwide!
In these very months the Arena, a 2,000 year old lady, is getting ready: major restorations are going on for the occasion.

It is nice thinking that in the very place where bloody combats of gladiators took place, in a short time people will merrily meet for celebrating sport and its values: fair-play, friendship, inclusivity, and playfulness.

We will celebrate a sense of human bonding and togetherness, washing away the blood shed of the gone-by ages.

It is the last skin of this cameleon: the old Arena has passed through the ages keeping on reinventing herself.

They say that Verona is the city of love: and indeed the people of Verona gave the Arena a lot of love and new meanings over the years.
Let's list the different uses of the Arena, from bad to good, throughout the centuries:

Bad
- gladiator combats
- burning of witches and heretics
- military parades
- prostitution
- bull fights

Good
- veggies market
- cattle fair
- social housing for the poor people
- New Year and Carnival celebrations
- Opera and Pop music festivals
- sport events (ice-skating, volley, basket-ball, tennis)

Clearly the Arena is not frozen in time. We keep on honoring her by reinventing new uses for her, and so respecting her heritage.
Using the Arena for a global celebration of sport and its values is only the last step of her long journey from bad to good.

See you on February 2026 in Verona or on every screen around the world!
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