With exactly 36 days to go before the flame is lit in Milan, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (MIT) used 1 January 2026 to declare the ‘anno olimpico’ for the Milano-Cortina Winter Games. In a press note, Vice-Premier Matteo Salvini stressed that 98 transport projects – from rail upgrades in Valtellina to last-mile road links in Cortina – are now in final testing.
While the announcement focused on national pride, it matters to mobility professionals for practical reasons. First, transport links will dictate commuting patterns for staff seconded to Olympic suppliers and broadcasters. Second, the Games have already prompted neighbouring Slovenia and Austria to prolong internal Schengen border checks through June 2026; companies should prepare for spot ID inspections on road and rail routes into Italy.
![Olympic Year Officially Begins: Government Highlights Border-Ready Infrastructure for Milano-Cortina 2026]()
MIT officials reiterated that all competition venues will meet universal-access standards, a requirement that also extends to new passport-control facilities at Milan-Bergamo airport and the renovated Cortina coach terminal. The ministry is expected to publish an Olympic transport plan later this month, detailing dedicated traffic lanes and accreditation-holder exemptions from certain road-toll increases that also take effect today.
Whether you’re a contractor heading to Valtellina for rail works or a broadcaster flying into newly expanded Bergamo, sorting out documentation early will spare headaches. VisaHQ’s Italy portal (https://www.visahq.com/italy/) guides travellers through ETIAS registration, business-visa applications and even complex multi-entry Schengen permits, bundling real-time status alerts with courier pickup for passports. The platform can streamline compliance for companies whose staff rotations fall outside the blanket accreditation exemptions planned by Olympic organisers.
Travel-management companies are advising clients to secure hotel allotments quickly: Milan’s tourist-tax surcharge doubles today (from €5 to €10 for five-star properties) and will remain high for the duration of the Games. Visa-exempt travellers should also budget €20 for the new ETIAS fee that came into force EU-wide at midnight.
While the announcement focused on national pride, it matters to mobility professionals for practical reasons. First, transport links will dictate commuting patterns for staff seconded to Olympic suppliers and broadcasters. Second, the Games have already prompted neighbouring Slovenia and Austria to prolong internal Schengen border checks through June 2026; companies should prepare for spot ID inspections on road and rail routes into Italy.
MIT officials reiterated that all competition venues will meet universal-access standards, a requirement that also extends to new passport-control facilities at Milan-Bergamo airport and the renovated Cortina coach terminal. The ministry is expected to publish an Olympic transport plan later this month, detailing dedicated traffic lanes and accreditation-holder exemptions from certain road-toll increases that also take effect today.
Whether you’re a contractor heading to Valtellina for rail works or a broadcaster flying into newly expanded Bergamo, sorting out documentation early will spare headaches. VisaHQ’s Italy portal (https://www.visahq.com/italy/) guides travellers through ETIAS registration, business-visa applications and even complex multi-entry Schengen permits, bundling real-time status alerts with courier pickup for passports. The platform can streamline compliance for companies whose staff rotations fall outside the blanket accreditation exemptions planned by Olympic organisers.
Travel-management companies are advising clients to secure hotel allotments quickly: Milan’s tourist-tax surcharge doubles today (from €5 to €10 for five-star properties) and will remain high for the duration of the Games. Visa-exempt travellers should also budget €20 for the new ETIAS fee that came into force EU-wide at midnight.
