30 January 2025 – The Italian Alps are set to host the next Winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in 2028. This decision was taken by the IOC Members today during the 143rd IOC Session in Lausanne, following a presentation by the project leaders.
Dolomiti Valtellina 2028 will be the fifth edition of the Winter YOG. Competitions will take place only in existing venues across three clusters in Valtellina, Trentino and Cortina, returning to some of the iconic sports venues that will be used for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. The 2028 YOG will be part of the Milano Cortina 2026 legacy, and will reinvest in communities with strong winter sports traditions.
The project is led by the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI), and the governments of the regions of Veneto and Lombardy and the Autonomous Province of Trento, supported by the Italian national government, and is in line with long-term plans to raise the regions’ profile as a winter sports destination.
The Italian delegation at Olympic House comprised Giovanni Malagò, CONI President and IOC Member in Italy; Andrea Abodi, Italian Minister of Sport and Youth; Attilio Fontana, Lombardy Region President; Maurizio Fugatti, President of the Autonomous Province of Trento; Cristiano Corazzari, Veneto Regional Councillor for Culture and Sport; and Olympic champions Diana Bianchedi and Antonio Rossi.
IOC President Thomas Bach said: “The election of Dolomiti Valtellina 2028 is an expression of the IOC’s confidence in Italy’s ability to deliver world class, exceptional winter sports events. The Olympic Movement and the host regions are already excited about Milano Cortina 2026, with just over one year to go until the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Today’s news means that excitement will extend until the end of the decade, and the benefits for local communities will continue.”
Mr Abodi said: “Italy is once again ready to put its heart, passion and expertise into hosting an event that will be not only a spectacular sporting occasion, but also a meaningful opportunity for growth for the entire nation. We aim to inspire the younger generations to embrace the value of sport as a tool for inclusion and social cohesion – a universal language capable of uniting cultures and nations, and fostering the diplomacy we so greatly need.”
Dolomiti Valtellina 2028 will be made possible, Mr Abodi added, thanks to the full collaboration between the Government, the Lombardy Region, the Veneto Region, the Autonomous Province of Trento, and CONI. “The organisation of the Winter Youth Olympic Games will further showcase the infrastructure built by SIMICO – Società Infrastrutture Milano Cortina, leaving additional positive legacies in terms of sports facilities, educational programmes and social initiatives, which will continue to generate impact well beyond the closure of the YOG 2028.”
There was a presentation by Karl Stoss, IOC Member and Chair of the Future Host Commission for the Olympic Winter Games, the IOC body responsible for monitoring and analysing interest in hosting the Olympic Winter Games and Winter Youth Olympic Games, which produced the IOC report on Dolomiti Valtellina 2028.
“Dolomiti Valtellina 2028 will consolidate the impact of Milano Cortina 2026 and further build on legacy programmes to empower young athletes and civic leaders,” he said. “The Commission found that the vision for the Youth Olympic Games is fully aligned with long-term regional plans, youth, sports and education policies, and the goals of Olympic Agenda 2020 and 2020+5.”
The programme of the YOG, from 15 to 29 January 2028, will include all seven winter Olympic sports: biathlon, bobsleigh, curling, ice hockey, luge, skating and skiing.
Seven of the 11 proposed venues for the YOG will have been used in 2026 – Stelvio Alpine Skiing Centre in Bormio, Livigno Aerials and Mogul Park and Livigno Snow Park for freestyle/snowboard, Cortina Sliding Centre for bobsleigh, skeleton and luge, Predazzo Ski Jumping Stadium, Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium, and Cortina Olympic Stadium, for curling. The programme also presents an opportunity to take competitions to venues that cannot be used in 2026.
No athlete will stay more than an hour from their venue, with seven out of 11 venues less than 15 minutes from their respective village.
A festival of sport, arts and local culture will take place throughout 2027, until the Olympic Torch celebrations in December. During the YOG, festival sites will be operated in Bormio and Trento.
The YOG will provide a platform for young people to take on leadership roles, practise winter sports and adopt healthier lifestyles. A number of legacy ambitions will be extended from 2026 to 2028, including Milano Cortina 2026’s goal to encourage “More Movement”, for example by promoting 30 minutes of movement per day and by working with national federations to encourage youth participation in competitive sports.
Recent hosting of the Olympic Winter Games will enable efficiencies in areas such as venues, transport infrastructure, workforce and marketing.
The YOG will be governed by a specific Organising Committee with a Memorandum of Understanding with Milano Cortina 2026, to foster collaboration between the two entities.
CONI President Giovanni Malagò said: “This is a historic day for Italian sport and for athletes across the world. Building on the remarkable legacy of Milano Cortina 2026, Dolomiti Valtellina 2028 will offer a unique opportunity to inspire the next generation, showcase the transformative power of sport, and set new benchmarks for global events. This significant achievement for our country has been made possible through the strong support of the national government, as well as the dedication of our regional and local partners. Italy and CONI have shown that we are reliable partners of the IOC, and together we will certainly deliver an unprecedented edition of the YOG.”
There were 89 “yes” votes for Dolomiti Valtellina 2028 by the IOC Members and one “no” vote out of 90 valid votes, with two abstentions.
