11 to 14 December 2023 (Milan, northern Italy)
Want to know more about business opportunities in around the 2026 Winter Games? The Dutch Consulate-General is organising an interactive sports visit to Milan and northern Italy from 11 to 14 December under the banner of SportsNL. Are you a Dutch company active in sports, major (public) events or otherwise business interested in the Games? Then we cordially invite you to sign up for this trip. Registration with a personalised agenda with matchmaking is possible until 14 November.
Purpose of the trip
The visit aims to give Dutch organisations and companies the opportunity to establish contacts with potential partners/relations in northern Italy. You will learn more about the 2026 Winter Games, the venues and business opportunities, including tenders. You will meet Italian industry associations and companies and relevant stakeholders at the venues. You will visit companies and organisations that value innovation. We also aim to create sustainable connections between Italian and Dutch parties and between Dutch parties. As a Dutch entrepreneur, this visit is an excellent opportunity for you to profile yourself in a collective with Dutch innovative and sustainable characteristics.
Winter Games 2026
The 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be held in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo and will be the first Winter Games in 20 years at a relatively short distance from the Netherlands. A challenge to organise such a big event in Europe with the tight new guidelines from both IOC and from the Italian organisation in terms of sustainability and cost containment.
With the Winter Games on the programme, Italy is investing a lot of money in the venues where the Games will take place, but also in the infrastructure around them. Sports facilities that have been in use for some time will be renovated and the Olympic villages that will be built will be given an important function even after the Games. This will also give a major boost to new solutions for (e-)mobility, water and waste recycling, for example. The organisation is thinking of sustainable solutions such as electric buses, but adjacent sectors such as hospitality, clothing or food can also take an important step towards more innovative and sustainable products towards the Winter Games. In addition, the organisation is always interested in innovative solutions for the 'fan experience' or digital solutions for security.
Together with RVO and SportsNL, the Milan CG commissioned a report to highlight opportunities for the Winter Olympics, but also to look at the entire sports sector in Italy. The report "Sports and innovation opportunities - winter Olympic and paralympic games Italy 2026" can be found here.
What to expect.
During this mission, we will support organisations in exploring business opportunities on the following topics:
The mission will give you the opportunity to collaborate with various stakeholders in the sports sector, including sports organisations, sports facilities and local authorities. This includes optimising sports infrastructure with innovative technologies, digitalisation and making sports infrastructure and sport events more sustainable.
Draft programme (subject to change)
11 December
Milan
Consulate-General Milan
Lombardy Region/Municipality of Milan
Presentation: 'Winter Olympics & Paralympics in Italy & sport system' with Nomisma
Trade association visit
Breaking the ice: understanding cultural & business-style differences
Evening programme and networking
12 December
Milan
Organising committee Milano-Cortina 2026
Venue visit: San Siro / Rho fiera Milano / Santa Giulia / Olympic Village
Workshop Public procurement in Italy and around the Winter Games
Matchmaking in Milan region
13 December
Verona-Trento
Company visits
Site visit: Arena of Verona
Industry organisation visit and matchmaking
Visit to cluster and innovation projects in Rovereto
Canteen visit
14 December
Val di Fiemme
Matchmaking with companies
Site visit: Val di Fiemme
Public stakeholders
Participate?
The visit is open to Dutch (Chamber of Commerce registered) organisations active in the named topics. Interested in participating? Register via this link. Please note, the deadline for registering with personalised matchmaking is 14 November 2023. Personalised matchmaking cannot be guaranteed after this date. There is a limited number of places available. Please note that the organisers reserve the right to select participants based on who can benefit most from this trip. Travel and accommodation costs are at your own expense.
Participating companies must fit within the stated format and content focus of this mission. Registration and its automatic receipt therefore does not automatically mean admission to the mission. You will receive final confirmation of your participation after the application period has closed.
Registration and questions?
Please contact:
Roeland Slagter
Senior Economic Advisor
Consulate-General Milan
E: roeland.slagter@minbuza.nl