With the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics imminent, organizers acknowledge it is a race against time to complete critical transport and infrastructure projects. 

The host cities are more than 400 kilometers apart and venues are spread across three regions, making the Games the most geographically dispersed in Olympic history.

On one side lies Milan, Italy's financial and transport hub, hosting speed skating, figure skating and ice hockey. On the other, the mountainous terrain of northern Italy, where skiing and sliding events will take place across Cortina d'Ampezzo, Bormio and Livigno.

Moving athletes, officials and spectators between these locations is one of the biggest challenges facing organizers. Regional rail operator Trenord says it is preparing for the expected surge in demand. 

"We want to be protagonists of sustainable mobility during a big event like this, so we're adding an extra 120 trips a day to serve Olympic visitors," Trenord's Marketing Manager Paolo Bellingreri told CGTN.

Milan's Central Station will serve as the main departure point for travellers heading to mountain venues. According to Bellingreri, passengers can reach Tirano from Milan in just over two hours, with bus connections to Bormio and Livigno - key Olympic competition zones.

To reduce travel demands on competitors, six Olympic villages will be spread across the competition zones. But managing spectator movement, particularly in Cortina, remains a major focus. 

Benedetto Gaffarini, Cortina Cluster Transport Manager for the Milano Cortina 2026 Foundation, told CGTN that organizers are planning separate transport systems for residents and visitors. 

Spectators will be encouraged to use park-and-ride facilities located between 15 and 60 kilometers from Cortina, before boarding shuttle buses into the town.

Infrastructure upgrades are expected to be one of the long-term legacies of the Games, including new roads, upgraded rail links and cable car systems designed to move people efficiently through the mountains. 

However, not all projects are on schedule. A new cable car linking Cortina to the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre has faced major delays and looks unlikely to be open on time.

"This project had many difficulties because the area is prone to landslides. Extensive testing was needed to find the right location. We hope it will be ready, but if not, we do have a plan B," Gaffarini told CGTN. 

With the final countdown under way, questions remain over how smoothly these widely dispersed Winter Olympics will run. Organizers insist they are on track, but transport will be a key test of whether Milano Cortina 2026 can deliver on its ambitious vision.