Higher, Faster, Colder

The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo are once again putting winter sports and their multifaceted development in the spotlight. The special exhibition ‘Higher, Faster, Colder!’ at the German Sport & Olympia Museum offers an exciting opportunity to rediscover this major event from a cultural-historical, social and sustainable perspective.

Five notable events take centre stage: Chamonix 1924, the birth of the Winter Games; Cortina d'Ampezzo 1956 – host city then as now; Garmisch-Partenkirchen 1936, the first time in Germany and an example of the political appropriation of sport; Albertville 1992, which marked a turning point after the Cold War, and Lillehammer 1994, which enriched the sport with a new rhythm for the Winter Games. Selected objects, impressive photographs and background stories show the transformation of the disciplines, the development of technology and the increasing role of media coverage.

At the same time, the exhibition looks ahead: what might the future of winter sports look like in the face of climate change? What measures are necessary to make major events such as the Winter Games more sustainable? ‘Higher, Faster, Colder!’ invites visitors not only to experience history, but also to discuss key issues of our time.