February 5th, 2026 - As the Olympics Near, Frustration Ripples Through a Mountain Town

Gildo Siorpaes stumbled into bobsledding almost by chance, then rode the sport to an Olympic bronze medal at the 1964 Winter Games in Innsbruck. Now 88, he finds himself watching a new bobsled track rise near his hometown ahead of the upcoming Winter Games in northern Italy and he despises what it represents.

From his home in Mortisa, a small hamlet outside Cortina d’Ampezzo, Mr. Siorpaes looks out at construction where there was once an uninterrupted alpine view. To him, the Olympic buildup has shattered the town’s character. Roads have been closed, traffic rerouted, and cranes and barriers have overtaken what was once a postcard-perfect mountain village. “It was paradise,” he said. “Now it’s being ruined.”

The disruption has stirred resentment throughout Cortina, a town of just 5,000 residents. Some locals complain about organizers, politicians and developers descending on their community, while Olympic officials have bristled at the resistance. The tension reflects a deeper divide: between residents who see the projects as an invasion and those who accept, or welcome, the changes as necessary modernization.

Critics describe the construction as wasteful and overwhelming, arguing that the scale far exceeds the town’s needs. Supporters counter that Cortina’s aging infrastructure required an overhaul anyway, and that the Games have accelerated improvements that will benefit the area long after the athletes leave.

Beyond the sporting venues, the Olympic investment includes new roads, parking areas, public spaces and renovated buildings. Most of the billions being spent, officials say, are for long-term “legacy projects,” not just competition sites. Local leaders insist the pain of construction will give way to decades of improved tourism and accessibility.

Still, some business owners worry about immediate losses. A number have been forced to close during the Games, sacrificing peak-season income for uncertain future gains. Others are uneasy about the safety and maintenance costs of hastily built infrastructure, particularly a new cable car in a landslide-prone area.

Mr. Siorpaes’s opposition carries weight in Cortina, even among those who disagree with him. Though he once helped build ski lifts and energy projects himself, he remains skeptical that the Olympic vision will deliver what it promises. Many locals respect his stance as the perspective of someone who has seen the town change and fears it may never quite be the same again.

Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster) - Adulation (noun, aj-uh-LAY-shun) - Adulation refers to extreme or excessive admiration, flattery, or praise.

Example: The triumphant players were greeted with shouts of adulation.

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