International Olympic Committee

06 Jul 2023 – An ambitious school education programme called GEN26, supported by several Olympians and athletes, has already captivated the hearts and minds of more than 100,000 students from 20 regions and 81 provinces across Italy over the last few months.

Giovanni Malago, President of the Organising Committee of the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, which runs the programme, explained how it is inspiring the next generation of Italians.

“GEN26, driven by the Olympic and Paralympic values, sets out to engage young people, fostering inclusivity, sustainable development and a lasting legacy for future generations. Through a comprehensive array of GEN26 initiatives, we aim to leave a profound impact on students and youth across Italy,” said Malago.

He continued: “The overarching goal of GEN26 is to inspire young individuals by connecting them with the core principles of sport. By sharing the journey towards the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, the programme seeks to foster a passion for sports among boys and girls, while instilling important values that extend beyond the playing field.”

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Bringing Milano Cortina 2026 to the schools

As part of GEN26, Milano Cortina 2026 and the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) have been actively engaging with students across Italy through a series of educational days called “Milano Cortina 2026 in the Schools”.

The programme promotes the values of sport and shares the journey towards 2026 while bringing the Olympic and Paralympic spirit into classrooms throughout the country. By sharing the experiences of organisers and stories from athletes, the project aims to inspire and educate approximately 8 million young students in Italy.

Domenico De Maio, Milano Cortina 2026’s Director of Education, has led the development of the programme. Speaking about it, he said: “The goal is to introduce the students to the project of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, convey the significance and opportunities of hosting the Games in their country, and highlight the importance of sport and its values, through the presence of accomplished athletes.”

He continued: “The educational activities serve as a platform to raise awareness, provide training, share information, and support schools in their mission to promote physical activity and the power of the Olympic and Paralympic message.”

Italian Olympians and athletes inspiring students across the country

Since the project’s launch in April 2023, the educational days have taken place in regions such as Emilia Romagna, Campania, Valle d’Aosta, Sardinia, Tuscany, and Puglia.

The inaugural stage in Bari on 18 April saw the participation of the Milano Cortina 2026 Foundation team, led by Olympic figure skater Valentina Marchei. There she was joined by Olympic taekwondo champion Carlo Molfetta.

Marchei, who competed in the Olympic Winter Games Sochi 2014 and PyeongChang 2018, has been spearheading the schools project in her position as Head of Milano Cortina 2026’s Ambassador Programme. Speaking about the visits to schools, she said: “It has been amazing sharing my experience, as an Olympic athlete, with young Italian students, who represent the future of our country. What made me most proud was being able to share with them, through my story, the magic of the Games – a kind of magic that only those who have lived the Olympic and Paralympic dream can tell.”

Other highlights of the initiative so far include a stage in Genoa where three accomplished athletes returned to their high school to share how sport has transformed their lives. Hammer thrower Silvia Salis, synchronised swimmer Marta Murru and IOC Young Leader and surfer Nicolo Di Tullio shared their experiences, focusing on promoting sport and sustainability on an international level, while also reinforcing the strong link between sport and education.

The first period of this project’s activity concluded at Courmayeur, Val d’Aosta, on 7 June, in the presence of Olympic Alpine skiing medallist Federica Brignone and Federico Pellegrino, an Olympic silver medallist in cross-country skiing.

Using the Games to address challenges related to inactivity

By promoting sports and healthy, inclusive and sustainable lifestyles, GEN26 is looking to use the period leading up to the Games to inspire and encourage increased sports participation among the younger generation.

Recognising the decline in sports participation among children aged 3-17 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the GEN26 programme places a strong emphasis on the importance of maintaining an active lifestyle.

Aligning with the goals of the IOC’s new “Let’s Move” initiative, which aims to inspire and enable the world to move more every day, GEN26 marked Olympic Day by inviting schools and other educational establishments to encourage their students to carry out 30 minutes of daily exercise throughout June.

Due to the overwhelming response from schools expressing their eagerness to participate in the GEN26 programme, the initiative will resume in the 2023-2024 school year across the entire country. This extension will allow even more students to be involved, fostering a deeper connection with the Olympic and Paralympic Games and their transformative potential.

The Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 will take place between 6 and 22 February, with the Paralympic Winter Games taking place from 6 until 15 March.