• Today’s event, promoted by Fondazione Cortina and the Municipality of Cortina, celebrates the strong connection with one of the key sports of the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games.
• Cortina, the birthplace of curling in Italy, now has an extraordinary opportunity to relaunch this sport and make the Belluno area a place where innovation and tradition coexist in a shared project of growth.
Cortina d’Ampezzo, April 16, 2025 – On the occasion of the World Junior Curling Championships – scheduled through April 21 and considered an important test event ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games – Fondazione Cortina and the Municipality of Cortina d’Ampezzo today hosted an institutional event dedicated to sport, the local area, and the future of curling in Ampezzo, titled “Cortina and Curling: Tradition, Innovation, and the Future.”
The event brought together institutional representatives, industry professionals, and athletes for a discussion on a sport that has its roots in Italy right here in Cortina, where it has been established for the past 70 years. After the historic milestone of Stefania Constantini’s Olympic gold at Beijing 2022, curling now looks to the future with the ambition to double the number of athletes and fans, aided by the exposure that will come with the 2026 Games.
Following welcome remarks by Mayor Gianluca Lorenzi and Stefano Longo, President of Fondazione Cortina, the City Council Hall hosted a lively debate, moderated by sports journalist Dario Puppo. Opening the discussion, World Curling President Beau Welling, alongside Alessandro Zisa, President of the Curling Club Dolomiti, and Giuseppe Antonucci, Federal Councillor of the FISG (Italian Ice Sports Federation), outlined the current state of the sport and the commitment of curling organizations to building a new tradition in Italy and worldwide.
Next, the discussion turned to technical aspects and the “road to Milano Cortina 2026,” with a focus on Cortina’s role as host of the Olympic and Paralympic competitions at the historic Olympic Ice Stadium. Speakers included Andrea Francisi, Chief Games Operations Officer of Milano Cortina 2026, Anna Riccardi, Sport Director of Milano Cortina 2026, and Fabio Saldini, CEO of Società Infrastrutture Milano Cortina 2026 S.p.A.
Also present in the room were the athletes of Team Colli – Giacomo Colli, Francesco De Zanna, Edoardo Alfonsi, and Alberto Zisa – as well as national paralympic team member Angela Menardi and other local curling representatives, demonstrating the deep bond between the Ampezzo region and this sport, which today looks ahead with renewed energy and sees the ongoing Championships as a key test for 2026.
“We’re truly thrilled to be back in Cortina for the World Junior Championships, an event that serves as a crucial test ahead of next year’s Games. The last time we were here was for the Men’s World Championship in 2010, and even now we’re struck by the warm welcome we’ve received. The crowds cheering for their teams have been incredible, and the energy and support shown by the local community give us so much excitement for the unique atmosphere that will come to life during the 2026 Games. We’re lucky to compete in one of the most iconic Olympic curling venues ever, and it’s incredibly exciting. We’re confident this venue will remain a hub for winter sports in the future, and we hope to do our part in bringing major events back to this beautiful city in the years to come,” said Beau Welling, President of World Curling.
“Watching young athletes take to the ice in Cortina is more than just a technical step toward the Olympics: it’s a dream taking shape, and it’s the future of our sport being told through passion, commitment, and determination. In less than a year, curling will bring Cortina into the spotlight, and both the city and everyone involved in this event are working hard to deliver a high-level experience. In this sense, the Junior World Championships make us optimistic that, as a nation, we’ll be ready to shine in 2026. On behalf of the FISG, we’re deeply proud to support these young men and women who are bravely and wholeheartedly striving to represent the Italian jersey in the best possible way,” said Giuseppe Antonucci, Federal Councillor of the FISG.
The discussion also touched on the growing role of curling and wheelchair curling in Italy, its educational and sporting value for the younger generations, and the legacy the Games will leave to the Ampezzo region: upgraded facilities, new opportunities for youth, and a shared vision of sustainable and inclusive development.
The historic Cortina d’Ampezzo facility, a symbol of the 1956 Winter Olympics – the first ever hosted in Italy – has recently undergone significant modernization to meet international standards ahead of the Games. The ongoing World Junior Curling Championships serve as a crucial test to assess the facility’s efficiency and full readiness for Olympic use.
“It was truly emotional to inaugurate the Junior World Championships and see so many young people competing at the newly renovated Ice Stadium ahead of the 2026 Games. The works were completed on schedule, with an investment of over 20 million euros and special attention to universal accessibility, and they’re a great calling card for Italy to show to the world,” commented Fabio Saldini, Government Commissioner and CEO of SIMICO.
“This Junior World Championship wraps up the season of test events,” said Andrea Francisi, Chief Games Operations Officer of Milano Cortina 2026. “We kicked it off in Bormio with the Men’s Alpine Skiing in late 2024, then moved through the other Olympic and Paralympic territories, where we received excellent feedback and learned valuable lessons from the venues. We know the long-standing tradition that curling has in Cortina, and the Ice Stadium becomes the perfect blend of history and innovation: a central venue in our masterplan that, in addition to hosting the Curling and Wheelchair Curling tournaments, will also be the stage for the emotional Closing Ceremony of the Paralympic Games, which will officially conclude the Milano Cortina 2026 experience. The results are the fruit of teamwork involving local areas, organizing committees, companies, and institutions at regional, provincial, and municipal levels”.
