The Winter Olympic Games of 2026 are entering their final week as elite athletes from around the world converge in northern Italy. Norway leads the medal tally with 28 medals, while Team GB holds the 12th position with three gold medals.
There is a possibility for Britain to surpass its record of five medals from the 2014 Sochi Games, with potential wins in men’s and women’s curling, women’s ski big air, and women’s ski halfpipe.
After the current games end, the fate of the state-of-the-art facilities used during the Olympics becomes a point of discussion. Italy, having hosted the Winter Olympics in 2006 in Turin, still showcases remnants of the games’ legacy.
Urban explorers from the Broken Window Theory team have revealed the neglected state of venues built for the 2006 Olympics. Despite significant investments, sites like the ice track for bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton, along with a ski jump facility, have been left to decay over the past two decades.
The video exposes the deserted ice track in Cesana Torinese, which, despite being abandoned for 15 years, remains intact with Olympic memorabilia still visible. The ski jump facility in Pragelato, however, shows signs of extensive deterioration, including vandalism and overgrowth.
While the Winter Olympics of 2026 promises sustainability efforts, concerns over the long-term viability of specialized venues remain. Organizers state that 85% of venues are pre-existing or temporary and will be dismantled post-event. The Olympic Village in Milan is planned for conversion into student housing, and infrastructure improvements are expected in Northern Italy.
