Lombardia’s Regional Councillor for Culture, Francesca Caruso, has announced that the upcoming Cultural Olympiad will not be a standalone event but a lasting investment designed to leave a legacy of networks, projects, and opportunities for the region. The initiative was presented at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival.
“We have invested three million euros to fund 33 different initiatives across eleven Lombard provinces. The events will run until June 2026, accompanying the Games with exhibitions, performances, installations, cinema, and workshops,” stated Councillor Caruso. She explained the project is divided into two strands: ‘Cultural initiatives leading up to the Games,’ with sixteen projects funded for €1.5 million, and ‘High-quality cultural offerings during the Games,’ supported by a further €1.5 million for seventeen projects. Activities will be widespread throughout Lombardia and in the Olympic territories, from Milan to Valtellina.
A key initiative is a collaboration with the FICTS (Fédération Internationale Cinéma Télévision Sportifs). Through February 2026, it will use video, photographs, and film materials to create a narrative dedicated to the history and lesser-known aspects of the Olympic Games. “With this project,” Caruso concluded, “we aim to highlight not only the medals and major titles, but also the stories that only the language of images can convey. It is work that naturally dialogues with Venice, an international showcase for visual languages.”