In the organizer's words:

When Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo open the Winter Olympic stage in 2026, the focus will once again be on what has always made these games so special: great emotions, top technical performances - and stories that go far beyond sport. This is exactly where our special exhibition "Higher, faster, colder!" comes in: it invites you to rediscover the Winter Games in their formative moments - from the beginnings to the present day.

The focus is on five striking events that illustrate the changes particularly clearly: Chamonix 1924, the birth of the Winter Games a good 100 years ago; Cortina d'Ampezzo 1956 allows us to look at the same venue as today; Garmisch-Partenkirchen 1936, the first Winter Games in Germany and at the same time an example of how sport can be politically appropriated; Albertville 1992 as a turning point after the Cold War with a reunited team; and Lillehammer 1994, which stands for the change of rhythm that gave the Winter Games their own rhythm.

Using selected objects, impressive photographs and surprising background stories, the exhibition shows how disciplines, equipment and competition venues are changing - and how media, technology and staging are increasingly shaping the Games. It's not just about medals, but also about the special atmosphere when athletes push themselves to their limits under extreme conditions.

And last but not least, "Higher, faster, colder!" poses the question of what the future holds for winter sports in the face of climate change - and how sustainable can a winter mega-event actually be?