The Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics represent a paradigmatic case of a widespread Olympics, with alpine and metropolitan clusters that transform medical services from a system centered on a single area into a multijurisdictional network. This narrative-comparative study analyzes the contemporary evolution of Olympic health management models (2006-2026) and contextualizes the Milano-Cortina plan through a literature review and documentary analysis of official reports from past editions, bid dossiers, and International Olympic Committee strategic documents. The results show a transition from host-city models to host-region arrangements, with a progressive increase in governance requirements, standardization, and informational interoperability. In the Milano-Cortina case, the multi-cluster architecture, the dualism between closed-loop pathways and care for the general population, and the integration with emergency care and public health further increase organizational complexity. Consistent with Winter Games surveillance showing sport-specific injury variability and a non-negligible illness burden, internal medicine—alongside emergency care—emerges as a stabilizing component for non-traumatic conditions and comorbidities. The model's effectiveness will depend on centralized oversight, interregional coordination, and monitoring mechanisms to ensure continuity of care and territorial equity.
- Organization of medical services for the winter olympic games
- Davide Croce (Corresponding Author) - Università Carlo Cattaneo - LIUCGiuseppe Massazza (Author)Fabio Pigozzi (Author)Diana Bianchedi (Author)Thomas Toso (Author)
- Italian journal of medicine, pp.1-13
- 17/06/2026
- PAGEPress; Pavia
- 1877-9344; 1877-9352
- Online
- 13
- English
- Tutti i diritti sono riservati ai legittimi detentori del copyright. L'Università Carlo Cattaneo - LIUC pubblica i dati relativi alle pubblicazioni di ricerca realizzate dai propri affiliati. La presenza nell'archivio ARL di testi completi non determina in alcun modo la libera riproduzione degli stessi, ma esclusivamente la possibilità della loro consultazione sul sito di ARL.
- Università Carlo Cattaneo - LIUC
- Journal article
- 991001143530705126