#IMC: September 14 - 18 2025

Solving ordinary problems with extraordinary events? Mega-events and socio-spatial dynamics in the Alps: the case study of Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics

Assigned Session: FS 3.173: Competiting visions of socio-ecological transformations in mountain territories : analyzing the role of conflicts

Abstract ID: 3.9006 | Accepted as Talk | Talk/Oral | TBA | TBA

Caterina Stocchi (0)
Caterina Stocchi (1)

1
(1) Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 8, 3584 CS Utrecht, Netherlands

(1) Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 8, 3584 CS Utrecht, Netherlands

Categories: Fieldwork, Spatial Planning, Sustainable Development
Keywords: Mega events, Infrastructre, landscape transformation, spatial analysis, housing

Categories: Fieldwork, Spatial Planning, Sustainable Development
Keywords: Mega events, Infrastructre, landscape transformation, spatial analysis, housing

Download
Download

This study aims to advance ongoing debates on the effects of mega events by exploring the socio-spatial dynamics of the Winter Olympic Games (WOG) in the Alps, how these areas react to these events and the challenges they will face in the post-Olympic scenario. The research is set in the Boite Valley, a mountain community in the Italian Alps that will host the 2026 WOG. Data was collected through interviews, photography and document analysis. Lefebvre’s spatial triad was used as a critical lens to analyse these dynamics. The research understands mega-events as a magnifying glass of already existing local dynamics while accelerating and reproducing global dynamics such as rapid urbanization, commercialization and capital-led development. The study revealed the ‘extraordinary’ transformation of the mega-events overlapping with the ‘ordinary’ transformation of mountain areas. The paper shows that the redevelopment projects required to host the Olympics mismatch the needs of the hosting communities and overlook potentially more effective efforts that address present needs for these areas.

N/A
NAME:
TBA
BUILDING:
TBA
FLOOR:
TBA
TYPE:
TBA
CAPACITY:
TBA
ACCESS:
TBA
ADDITIONAL:
TBA
FIND ME:
>> Google Maps

Limits: min. 3 words, max. 30 words or 200 characters

Choose the session you want to submit an abstract. Please be assured that similar sessions will either be scheduled consecutively or merged once the abstract submission phase is completed.

Select your preferred presentation mode
Please visit the session format page to get a detailed view on the presentation timings
The final decision on oral/poster is made by the (Co-)Conveners and will be communicated via your My#IMC dashboard

Please add here your abstract meeting the following requirements:
NO REFERNCES/KEYWORDS/ACKNOWEDGEMENTS IN AN ABSTRACT!
Limits: min 100 words, max 350 words or 2500 characters incl. tabs
Criteria: use only UTF-8 HTML character set, no equations/special characters/coding
Copy/Paste from an external editor is possible but check/reformat your text before submitting (e.g. bullet points, returns, aso)

Add here affiliations (max. 30) for you and your co-author(s). Use the row number to assign the affiliation to you and your co-author(s).
When you hover over the row number you are able to change the order of the affiliation list.

1
1
Add Affiliation(s)

Add here co-author(s) (max. 30) to your abstract. Please assign the affiliation(s) of each co-author in the "Assigned Aff. No" by using the corresponding numbers from the "Affiliation List" (e.g.: 1,2,...)
When you hover over the row number you are able to change the order of the co-author list.

1
Add Co-Author(s)
1
2
3
4
5
1
Add Keyword
Close