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The outsourcing of individual Olympic competitions to another country would have taken place for the first time.
The basic attitude of the locals towards outsourcing games would have been positive.
A key obstacle to supporting sporting events is often a lack of trust in organizers
The use of existing infrastructure increases the sustainability of sporting events.
Background to the study
The study relates to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina. Due to delays in the construction of the ice channel in Cortina d'Ampezzo, consideration was given to outsourcing the bobsleigh, skeleton and luge competitions to another country, specifically to Innsbruck-Igls in Austria. This would have been the first time in the history of the Winter Olympics that competitions had been "outsourced" to another country.
Summary of the study
This study examines the support of local residents for the outsourcing of competitions within the Winter Olympic Games, focusing on the ice channel competitions of the 2026 Games in Milan-Cortina. Based on survey data (585 participants) from Innsbruck-Igls, Austria, the research analyzes how co-hosting affects local perceptions. The results show significant support for outsourcing, which is significantly influenced by the perceived benefits of European cooperation, the pooling of resources and trust in decision-makers. In addition, active use of sports facilities and economic links with tourism increase support. These findings underline the potential of outsourcing to mitigate financial and environmental challenges and promote sustainable models for hosting mega-events.
Key findings of this study
An unprecedented case: The scenario examined - the outsourcing of individual Olympic competitions to another country - would have beena first in the history of the Winter Olympics.
Change in sentiment: The results indicate that support for outsourcing is remarkably high, especially considering the Tyrolean population's previous negative attitude towards Olympic bids (such as the 2017 referendum).
Trust as a key factor: A key barrier to support from locals is often a lack of trust in organizations such as the International Olympic Committee. However, the study shows that outsourcing can be perceived as a more sensible and responsible management approach that could help to regain this trust.
Sustainability through resource sharing: Instead of building new, costly sports facilities that often remain unused later, outsourcing sports events enables the use of existing infrastructure, which offers both economic and environmental benefits.