Organised Crime Targets 2026 Winter Olympic Construction Projects
The picturesque alpine resort of Cortina d'Ampezzo, set to host the 2026 Winter Olympics from 6th to 22nd February, finds itself at the centre of a significant battle against organised crime infiltration. Construction works for the Milano Cortina Games have become a focal point for suspected mafia involvement, prompting unprecedented anti-corruption measures from Italian authorities and civic organisations.
Operation Reset Uncovers Criminal Networks
In October 2024, Carabinieri forces in Belluno announced three arrests following a year-long investigation dubbed "Operation Reset." Among those detained were two brothers, known members of the notorious SS Lazio Ultras faction, who allegedly boasted personal connections to murdered former boss Fabrizio Piscitelli. The prosecutor's office claims these individuals were operating a three-phase criminal enterprise in Cortina: establishing control over local drug distribution networks, taking over three nightclubs, and attempting to extort construction contracts from the local council for Olympic-related projects.
Evidence reportedly includes mobile phone notes detailing specific construction targets: "We want the cemetery area for the garages, the former pastry shop, the slip road and the new ring road, the construction of the tourist village." The brothers remain awaiting trial while facing charges of employing "mafia methods" including extortion, coercion and intimidation. During their arrest, they allegedly declared: "This is Cortina, we're in charge here. I'm not a small-town criminal, I'm the boss and we'll solve this thing with guns."
Systemic Construction Sector Vulnerabilities
According to Italy's Antimafia Investigative Directorate, 38% of all anti-mafia measures taken nationally in 2024 targeted the construction sector, with approximately 200 public works sites investigated for suspected organised crime infiltration. The DIA specifically warned parliament that "the Winter Olympics represent a significant event ... for criminal syndicates interested in gaining a foothold in the tender awarding procedures."
In Lombardy alone, authorities implemented 50 anti-mafia interdiction measures during 2024. One notable case involved a construction company working on an underground car park for the Milan-Cortina Olympics, whose directors were found to maintain personal and professional relationships with multiple 'Ndrangheta gang members.
The scale of financial investment creates substantial temptation for criminal elements. While the 2015 Milan World Exposition faced corruption scandals around its €2.6 billion budget, current Olympic expenditure has surpassed €5.7 billion, with only €1.6 billion allocated directly to Games realisation. The remaining €4.12 billion funds related infrastructure projects, including €2.816 billion for road developments, many of which won't complete until after the Games conclude, with some scheduled as late as 2033.
Transparency Initiatives Combat Corruption
In response to these threats, anti-mafia organisation Libera has launched the radical Open Olympics 26 programme, aiming to increase transparency around public procurement procedures. Their signature achievement involves compelling Games organisers to publish all financial dealings on a publicly accessible portal updated every 45 days.
Leonardo Ferrante of Libera explains: "Italy is known as the country of the mafia, but it should also be known as the country of the anti-mafia movement." The initiative emerged from "a significant rift between Italian civil society and institutional bodies" in autumn 2023, creating a network of associations demanding greater accountability.
Thanks to these transparency efforts, concerning statistics have emerged: 60% of the 98 Olympic projects listed on the portal proceeded without environmental impact assessments, highlighting procedural shortcuts taken under time pressure. Elisa Orlando of Libera notes: "It is a very Italian problem. We have seen it in other mega events, like the Universal Exposition in Milan 10 years ago. The emergency mentality surrounding delivery deadlines creates exemptions from normal transparency and procurement procedures."
International Implications and Legacy
The Milano Cortina situation reflects broader Olympic corruption patterns, with three of the last six Games (Sochi 2014, Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020) experiencing major scandals. As fewer cities bid for future Olympics due to public scepticism about costs—with Krakow, Oslo, Stockholm, Innsbruck, Sion and Calgary all withdrawing from 2022 and 2026 bidding processes—the Open Olympics project represents a potential model for reform.
Libera's team is already collaborating with French organisations ahead of the 2030 Winter Olympics across the Alps. Ferrante emphasises: "The risk of criminal infiltration exists everywhere, not only in Italy. But here in Italy, we have lenses that allow us to recognise criminal infiltration when it occurs. Our third aim is to build an international civic legacy—creating an international movement for Olympic transparency."
Despite progress, challenges remain. Libera continues pushing for greater subcontracting disclosure, noting that significant portions of Olympic projects remain outside the transparency portal under private company control. As Ferrante observes: "The Fondazione Milano Cortina represents the black hole of transparency," indicating ongoing battles against corruption in one of the world's most prestigious sporting events.
