High in the snow-capped Dolomites, nestled among pine forests and alpine valleys, lies Cortina d’Ampezzo, one of Italy’s most picturesque towns. Today, it's known as a world-class ski resort and the upcoming co-host of the 2026 Winter Olympics. But few remember that Cortina was once chosen to host the 1944 Winter Olympic Games — a celebration of sport that never came to pass.
A Town on the Rise
In the 1930s, Cortina d’Ampezzo was already making a name for itself in winter sports. With its dramatic mountain landscapes and growing tourist infrastructure, it was a natural choice to host international competitions. Italy, under Benito Mussolini’s fascist regime, had ambitions of showcasing national pride and strength on the global stage — just as Hitler's Germany had done in the 1936 Berlin Olympics and Garmisch-Partenkirchen Winter Games.
When the International Olympic Committee (IOC) awarded Cortina the 1944 Winter Olympics, it was a symbolic nod to Italy’s growing stature in sport and politics. The announcement came in June 1939, just months before Europe would descend into the most destructive war in history.
The Looming War
Plans for the Games moved forward cautiously. Italy prepared venues for ski jumping, bobsleigh, and speed skating. Hotels were reserved, transportation routes were mapped, and excitement began to build — not just in Cortina, but throughout Europe.
But as World War II unfolded with increasing brutality, it became clear that the Olympic ideal of international unity and peaceful competition would be impossible to uphold.
By 1941, large parts of Europe were engulfed in conflict. Italy, now deeply involved in the war and aligned with Nazi Germany, could no longer guarantee the safety or viability of hosting the Games. The IOC held off canceling them for as long as possible, but in 1943, with the Allies invading Italy and civil war breaking out within the country itself, the decision was unavoidable.
The 1944 Cortina Olympics were officially cancelled.
A Pause in the Olympic Flame
The cancellation of the 1944 Games marked the second Olympic cycle lost to war, following the abandoned 1940 Games in both Tokyo (later moved to Helsinki and then canceled) and Sapporo (planned for the Winter edition). The Olympic flame would not burn again until 1948, in a war-weary but healing world.
Cortina was left with half-finished facilities and the quiet heartbreak of a missed opportunity.
Redemption in 1956
But the story didn’t end in tragedy. A decade after the war, Italy had rejoined the global community. In 1949, Cortina was once again awarded the Winter Olympics — this time for 1956. The Games were a dazzling success, becoming the first Winter Olympics ever broadcast on television and introducing the charm of Cortina to millions.
The 1956 Games were not just a celebration of sport but a symbol of peace, recovery, and resilience — for both Italy and the Olympic movement.
A Legacy Reignited
Now, as Cortina prepares to co-host the 2026 Winter Olympics with Milan, it stands as a testament to the enduring Olympic spirit — a spirit that survives even the darkest chapters of history.
Though the 1944 Cortina Games never happened, their legacy endures in the town’s place in Olympic history. They serve as a quiet reminder of the fragility of peace, and of the enduring hope that, even after war, the world can once again come together — not in conflict, but in celebration.
