Because of this, if you were stationed in one location, you were limited in the number of events you could see live. For example, we were in Milan, where hockey, figure skating, and speed skating events took place. If you were looking to catch another winter sport at these Games, you were doing it on television, like the rest of the world.
It also made embracing the Games challenging for those in larger urban centres, like Milan. Stories from folks who witnessed Olympic action in Cortina or Livigno, spoke of mountain and valley towns that fully embraced the Games and everything about them. For those of us in Milan, you would have been hard-pressed to know the Games were taking place in many parts of the city.
Sure, there was activity around the famous Duomo di Milano cathedral, and things certainly perked up at the three venues hosting the previously mentioned sports. But otherwise, the only indication that the Games were taking place in Milan, was the sight of random tourists walking through the Navigli district wearing their respective country’ s jersey.
When the Games are this spread out, organizers need to work doubly hard to ensure that the country – or the region of the country the Games are in – truly own this international celebration of sport. Simply putting up a few banners and waiting for the tourists to arrive won’ t work.
Those behind the 2030 Games in France should take note, because their challenges will be similar. While those Olympics and Paralymics will be spread out over four locations instead of seven, the obstacles to getting country-wide buy-in will be similar. The concept of hosting the Olympics is changing, and therefore attendee expectations will likely need to as well.
Gary Davies President / CEO of the Canadian Sport Institute Alberta