Winter Olympics Report 17: Global Event, Local Impact

In his last Winter Olympic report, Matt Rendell looks to Olympic venues Bormio and Livigno to demonstrate the negative legacy the games will leave behind.

As the 2026 Winter Olympics disappears from the landscapes of Northern Italy, their impact remains.

New facilities, roads and artificial reservoirs, all constructed for these games, have been imposed on communities that instead need better public services, transport and health facilities.

Many have accused the event organisers of using the Winter Games as a pretext for predatory overdevelopment, with little regard for the climate or local communities.

And as Matt Rendell’s regular reports have shown, they make a compelling case.

You can now watch the full series of reports on the New Weather Institute YouTube.