DIGNITY, SAFETY AND SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY IN THE OLYMPIC GAMES: LESSONS FROM MILANO-CORTINA 2026
DIGNITY, SAFETY AND SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY IN THE OLYMPIC GAMES: LESSONS FROM MILANO-CORTINA 2026

Summary/Abstract: This paper analyses Milano-Cortina 2026 as a case study to assess the ability of major sporting events to ensure dignity, safety and social sustainability throughout the entire labour chain. Despite the existence of codes of ethics, multi-level agreements and formally advanced governance tools, the experience of the Games has highlighted a significant gap between stated principles and actual operating conditions. The testimonies gathered document excessive working hours, inadequate accommodation, insufficient training, poor health monitoring and difficulties in reporting issues, demonstrating how the exceptional nature of the event can normalise precarious working conditions and the erosion of rights.By integrating the perspective of Olympism, the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and the literature on safe sport, the analysis proposes a systemic approach to protection that includes all workers involved in organising the Games. The article argues that the true legal legacy of Olympic events lies in the ability to translate stated values into coherent and binding organisational practices, even under intense pressure. Milano-Cortina 2026 thus offers crucial insights for strengthening supply chain bargaining models, participatory oversight mechanisms and forms of governance geared towards social responsibility.

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