Olympic Athletes to Brave Spartan Accommodations in Cortina’s Mobile Home Village

Winter Olympians heading to Cortina d’Ampezzo for the February 2026 Milan-Cortina Games won’t be greeted by luxury lodgings or cozy fireplaces after their competitions. Instead, they’ll find themselves in a temporary village of 377 rented mobile homes nestled in a humid valley floor about 10 minutes north of downtown Cortina.

The Associated Press recently became the first international media outlet granted access to this unique athletes’ village, which will house up to 1,400 competitors and team members during the February 6-22 Games.

“It’s located in a very quiet area of Cortina, where you have the opportunity to hear the sound of the mountains, isolate yourself if you wish, concentrate if you desire, or go out for a pleasant workout,” explained Fabio Saldini, the Italian government commissioner overseeing infrastructure for the Games.

What the accommodations lack in luxury, they make up for with proximity to the breathtaking Dolomite mountains. Athletes will wake up to either biting winds or stunning vistas of sunlight reflecting off jagged mountain peaks, depending on the day’s weather.

Practical but Spartan Living Conditions

Each trailer is divided into two rooms, housing up to two people per room with private bathrooms and showers. However, the village layout presents its own challenges. Athletes staying near the perimeter will face a 10-minute walk to reach common areas like the cafeteria, gym, game room, and laundromat.

The altitude at the village (4,239 feet) is slightly higher than downtown Cortina, and without permanent buildings to block the wind, conditions can be harsh. During the AP’s November visit, a snowstorm created blizzard-like conditions across the open terrain.

“The wind is an element. But it doesn’t blow all day long every day,” noted Paride Casagrande, the Village’s construction manager. “There could be very cold days and there could be very comfortable days. But the fact remains that we’re in a natural area where it’s cold.”

Teams Split on Village Accommodations

Housing athletes is one of the most significant challenges for Olympic organizers, particularly for the geographically dispersed Milan-Cortina Games. Winter sports powerhouse Norway has already decided its skiers will stay in hotels rather than the official Olympic villages, according to Norwegian news agency NTB.

Meanwhile, other major nations including the United States, Germany, and host Italy have committed to using the villages, though elite Alpine stars may opt for alternative accommodations. The village will be particularly vital during the Paralympic Games scheduled for March 6-15.

Climate Control Unlike Paris

Unlike the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, where the lack of air conditioning in athlete accommodations prompted teams to bring their own units, Cortina’s village offers personalized climate control in every room. Each mobile home features both wall-mounted heating units and infrared ceiling panels, all running on electricity.

“Without much power, the temperature can be brought up to 25-26 degrees Celsius (77-79 Fahrenheit), which should be all that’s necessary,” Casagrande explained, though he noted with amusement that he’s already witnessed sliding competitors in town for test events “walking around outside in their underwear even though it’s snowing out.”

Temporary Solution with Sustainability in Mind

The total cost for the Village amounts to 38 million euros ($44 million). While the mobile homes are being rented for the Games, each unit would cost up to 80,000 euros ($93,000) to purchase outright.

After the Olympics and Paralympics conclude, the mobile homes will be repurposed at camping sites throughout Italy. Some are already destined for a hockey club in nearby Brunico, fulfilling organizers’ commitment to sustainability.

“The beauty of a Village like this lies in the fact that everything will be removed afterward,” Saldini emphasized. “Nothing is permanent; the environment will not return to its previous state but will be improved. This is a temporary village, but of high design.”

Though some climate activists protested the clearing of trees to establish the village, Casagrande maintains that “most of them were already dead” and that new plants and trees have been introduced to the area. “This is a natural park and we’re going to leave it just as we found it,” he said.

The Cortina athletes’ village represents a pragmatic balance between meeting Olympic housing needs and minimizing permanent environmental impact in one of Italy’s most scenic alpine regions.