Last updated: March 31, 2026
Allianz at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games Q&A
What actually can, and cannot, be insured at the Olympic Winter Games?
In principle, almost anything can be insured, but coverage is ultimately a question of price and terms and conditions. The IOC and the Milano Cortina Organizing Committee follow a mandatory insurance standard, typically covering 15–17 lines of business depending on whether its summer or winter games. What cannot be insured in practice is sporting outcome or athletic performance. Athletes compete for the peak moment of their career, not an insurable guarantee of victory.
When does insurance planning for the Games begin?
Planning begins three to five years before the Games, starting as early as the formation of the Milano Cortina Organizing Committee. Allianz already works with Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (OCOGs) for 2030 (French Alps) and 2032 (Brisbane). The process evolves from initial organizational needs (e.g., employees, office, basic operational insurance) to sport and athlete-specific coverage as Games operations scale up.
How does insuring Winter Games differ from Summer Games?
Winter Games involve fewer athletes (around 3,500 vs. over 11,000 at Paris), and the venues are geographically more dispersed, with 16+ venues extending from Milano to Cortina, Livigno, Bormio, and Verona. This increases logistical and insurance complexity. Winter sports entail different and often higher physical risks (e.g., bobsleigh, icy surfaces, speed), while summer sports may involve heat exposure or water based environments. Weather driven uncertainty is greater: heatwaves disrupted Paris; Winter Games face snow volume, temperature swings, ice quality, which directly affect competition feasibility.
Why did Allianz enter a partnership with the Paralympics?
It began 20 years ago as a social responsibility initiative to support athletes with disabilities and advance inclusion. Paralympic athletes perform at the same or even higher levels and deserve equal visibility, which was a major motivation for this. Allianz believes deeply in the importance of sport, health, unity, and global community, making the Paralympic partnership an authentic match for the brand.
How does Allianz contribute to safety in sports beyond insurance?
Allianz works directly with the German Bobsleigh and Luge Federation (BSD) to identify high risk scenarios and co develop safety innovations for bobsleigh sport. In collaboration with the BSD, the Allianz Center for Technology (AZT) introduced the Allianz Safety Sled , which provides racetrack analysis in real time to coaches and athletes ahead of a race, and most recently, helped design the Head Impact Protection system, which minimizes the risk of head injuries in case of a crash. Allianz leverages its expertise in automotive safety to drive innovation in this high-speed winter sport by adapting proven safety concepts.
Answers provided by Eike Buergel, Global Head of Olympic and Paralympic Program at Allianz SE. She has been leading the Olympic and Paralympic program at Allianz for over 7 years, responsible for managing and setting up the TOP partnership with the International Olympic and Paralympic Committees.
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The Allianz Group is one of the world’s leading insurers and asset managers, active in almost 70 countries and serving around 97 million private and corporate customers*. Our customers benefit from a broad range of personal and corporate insurance services, including property, life and health insurance, as well as assistance services, credit and global business insurance. Recognized for the seventh consecutive year as the number one global insurance brand in Interbrand’s Best Global Brands 2025 ranking, Allianz’s success is built on technology-enabled customer centricity – providing peace of mind, protection, and prevention for our customers and strengthening the resilience of individuals, communities, and societies. We are one of the world’s largest investors, managing around 770 billion euros** on behalf of our insurance customers. Furthermore, our asset managers PIMCO and Allianz Global Investors manage about 2.0 trillion euros** of third-party assets. Thanks to our systematic integration of environmental and social criteria in our business processes and investment decisions, Allianz received an MSCI ESG Rating of AAA (as of March 2026). In 2025, our 156,000 dedicated employees achieved a total business volume of 186.9 billion euros and an operating profit of 17.4 billion euros for our shareholders.
* As of December 31, 2025. Customer count reflects Allianz customers in consolidated entities that are part of the customer reporting scope only
** As of March 31, 2026.
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