Not everyone in Milan is cheering for the Winter Olympics, and thousands took to the streets to voice their discontent, turning the city’s excitement into a heated debate. While the world marvels at the spectacle of the Games, a coalition of activists, environmentalists, and concerned citizens gathered to protest what they see as a money-making machine disguised as a global celebration of unity. But here’s where it gets controversial: as the city sparkled with Olympic fervor, the streets echoed with chants of dissent, raising questions about the true cost of hosting such a grand event.
On a crisp Saturday, a massive protest—likely surpassing the estimated 3,000 attendees—brought together a diverse group of left-leaning activists, each with their own grievances against the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics. The demonstration, though peaceful, ended dramatically after three hours when police deployed tear gas in response to fireworks, forcing protesters to retreat from Milan’s Corvetto neighborhood. Among the crowd were environmentalists from APE (Associazione Proletari Escursionisti), who carried cardboard trees to symbolize the 500 trees felled in Cortina for Olympic construction. Their message was clear: progress shouldn’t come at the expense of nature.
But the environment wasn’t the only concern. Many protesters argued that public funds allocated for the Olympics could have been better spent addressing Milan and Italy’s more pressing issues. Is it fair to prioritize a two-week event over long-term community needs? Davide Forsati, a protester from APE, summed it up: ‘People like us have to pay with their taxes.’
And this is the part most people miss: the protest wasn’t just about money or trees. It was also a platform for broader political statements. Banners reading ‘ICE out for Minneapolis’ highlighted objections to the presence of Trump administration’s ICE agents in Milan, while pro-Palestine activists waved flags and chanted ‘Free Palestine,’ questioning Israel’s participation in the Games when Russian athletes were banned due to the Ukraine war. Should the Olympics be a stage for political statements, or should they remain strictly about sport?
The economic impact on locals also took center stage. Protesters pointed to skyrocketing rents, allegedly exacerbated by Olympic demand, and the exploitation of hotel workers. Jessica Todaro, a unionist from CUB, explained, ‘The Olympics have become an event for millionaires. Hotel rates are soaring, but wages aren’t budging. The problem isn’t the Olympics themselves—it’s how they’re managed. They should give back to the host city, not just take.’
As the march stretched from 3 p.m. into the evening, police in riot gear, backed by Italy’s military police, kept a watchful eye. The tension escalated with fireworks and tear gas, but the protesters’ message remained unwavering. And this might not be the end—rumors suggest another protest is planned in Verona on the Games’ final day.
Meanwhile, rail disruptions on Saturday added to the chaos, with The Telegraph reporting sabotage investigations by Italian police. As the world tunes in to watch the Winter Olympics on 9Network, 9Now, and Stan Sport, Milan’s streets remind us that the Games are about more than medals and records. Are the Olympics truly a force for unity, or have they lost their way in a sea of commercialization and controversy? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments—do you think the protesters have a point, or is their criticism misplaced?
