Gen26: The Path in Schools Starts in Bolzano

Milano Cortina 2026 returns to schools with a series of educational days to promote the values of sport. Athletes Windisch, Thöni and Angerer will visit classes.

Inspire through the founding values ​​of sport. This is the heart of the GEN26 Education Program, conceived by the Organising Committee of Milano Cortina 2026 to share the path towards the next Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games on Italian territory with the girls and boys and encourage future generations to engage in sport, to use it as a tool to transform one's life and improve that of an entire community.

The Education Program includes a series of events for students with the aim of actively involving them in the process of approaching the 2026 Games. Among these there is "Milano Cortina 2026 in schools: the Winter Games for the new generations", an educational initiative created for first and second level secondary schools with the aim of promoting the universal values ​​of sport and telling the path it will lead Italy to host the next Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. 

The meeting with the Italian Olympic champions

The first stop in 2024 was Bolzano, at the "Claudia de Medici di Malles Venosta" Secondary Education Establishment, the home of many winter sports champions, where, in the presence of the institutions, Domenico De Maio, Director of Education of Milano Cortina 2026, talked about the project for the most important event that Italy will host in the coming years to around 400 students. The students were also able to gain a better understanding of the value of sport thanks to precious testimonies from the Olympic athletes present including Dominik Windisch (3 Olympic bronzes in biathlon), Gustav Thöni (Olympic gold in giant slalom) and Clara Angerer (Olympic cross-country skiing athlete).

"This project marks a further step in th development path in our Education Program - comments Diana Bianchedi, Chief of Strategic Planning and Legacy of Milano Cortina 2026 - "Milano Cortina 2026 in schools" is an opportunity for the active involvement of the new generations and direct contact with the Olympic and Paralympic world told through the experiences of athletes, but also of those who experience the organisational challenge of the Games and its extraordinary complexity from within. Through the stories of the protagonists and the experiences of the organisers, young people are involved in the most important sporting event that will take place in Italy in the coming years."

Participation opportunities for children

Numerous institutional figures were present at the meeting with the children: from the Mayor of the Municipality of Malles, Josef Thurner; to the President of the CONI Bolzano Provincial Committee, Alexander Tabarelli; by the President of the CR FISI South Tyrol, Markus Ortler; to the President of the Provincial Council, Josef Noggler.

The day then ended with time for questions and the presentation of the various participation opportunities (such as the volunteer program; PCTO; internship; education program...) to experience the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics as protagonists.