When people typically think of the Winter Olympics, they think about opening ceremonies, skiing, skating, ice hockey, and more. What most people don’t think about is the costs of hosting the Olympics and the profits generated by this event. The 2026 Winter Olympics will take place in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo from Fri, Feb 6, 2026, to Sun, Feb 22, 2026, and business will be booming.
The Olympics generate profits in many different ways. One way is to add new events to the Olympics. The Olympics generally add at least two new sports/events every year.
This year, they are adding one new sport and eight new events to the existing ones. The sport they are adding this year is Ski mountaineering. Adding new sports to every Olympics is a great way to attract more spectators, secure sponsorships, and drive growth. Many people dislike the new sports being hosted at the Olympics because they typically raise ticket prices due to larger venues, which cost more to build.
Others believe the new additions dilute the Games because they take away the importance of the traditional games. However, many people enjoy the inclusion of new sports at the Olympics because it allows them to watch a wider variety of sporting events. Ryan Dudderar ‘29 says “the new sports help because they add a wider array of people to come and view the Olympics.” This is just one example of how the Olympic organization can benefit from adding these new sports events.
The Olympics have a few other strategies to generate larger profits, which involve location. The Olympics spend years finding the best area to host the games. The 2026 Winter Olympics will be held in Milan, Italy. Location is so important because it’s one of the biggest reasons why people pay to travel to the city, besides the actual games.
A lot of money is spent on preparations with one thing in mind: the overall experience. Most people travel to the Olympics to watch certain sports and experience all the energy and excitement of the Games. They also spend time exploring the host country and turn the Olympics into a total vacation. Bayan Katirai ‘29 wishes to go to the Olympics because of the experience. Katirai ‘29 says, “I wish to go to the Winter Olympics at some point because of the great experiences and the environment.”
The city that hosts the Olympic Games greatly benefits from the event. Roughly 2 million fans will travel to Milan, and around 12 million people will stream the Olympics. All of these people visiting and watching increases tourism, as spectators from all over the world travel to see different parts of the city. Katirai ‘29 believes this event will be very helpful for the city, mentioning that “Milan is a pretty place, and the Olympics will attract a lot of tourists not just from an individual country but from countries all around the world. I also believe this will be very beneficial for the locals.”
On the other hand, Ryan Shelton, a physics teacher at WFS, believes the money and preparations for hosting the Olympics can be used for different issues and causes. Ryan Shelton mentions, “There are a lot of resources that always go into the Olympics, and it always makes me wonder if there are better ways we can spend some of these resources.”
Many countries want to be selected to host the Olympics because of the benefits they can bring. The one location that gets chosen
generally receives 1.5 billion dollars in funding from the Olympic Committee. The Olympics provide these large sums of money, knowing how much they will profit (estimated at $ 5 billion). As the 2026 Winter Olympics approach, final preparations are underway to ensure the best possible experience.
The Olympics depend on people around the world attending or streaming the games. They prioritize profits while also aiming to unite countries and create unforgettable moments for millions of spectators.
With the Olympic Games right around the corner, excitement continues to grow. Will viewers be watching and taking part in one of the world’s most significant business operations?
