Milan Churches Teach Olympic Values to Thousands of Kids During Winter Games

Catholic Archdiocese of Milan initiative promotes excellence, friendship and respect through sports activities and athlete testimonies.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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As the 2026 Winter Olympics take place in Milan, the Catholic Archdiocese of Milan is running the 'Tour of Sports Values' initiative to teach thousands of local children Olympic values like excellence, friendship and respect through workshops, exhibitions, athlete testimonies and sports activities. The program is anchored by letters from Milan's Archbishop and is being carried out in parish spaces called 'oratories' where children and teenagers gather after school.

Why it matters

The initiative aims to connect the Olympic spirit with daily life, turning familiar church spaces into classrooms for sport, reflection and community. It highlights how sports can be a vehicle for teaching ethical principles like cooperation, respect, solidarity and inclusion, especially to young people. The program also showcases how oratories have long been places where Italians have learned the values of life through sports, with many Olympic champions emerging from these community spaces.

The details

The Tour of Sports Values kicked off on February 9th at the Church of Sant'Antonio in Milan, where dozens of children received snowflake-shaped medals after meeting basketball player Giordano Bortolani, who spoke about Olympic values and his own start in sports at a local oratory. The program also features banners created by high school students interpreting Olympic-inspired principles. Initiatives like this are supported by the foundation that coordinates oratories across the Milan archdiocese, with help from organizations like the Center for Sports Information (CSI) and local sports clubs.

  • The Tour of Sports Values program runs from February 9 to February 20, 2026.
  • The Winter Olympics are taking place in Milan-Cortina in 2026.

The players

Valentina Piazza

Project manager for CSI for the World, which provides sports programs to children in developing countries.

Mario Delpini

The Archbishop of Milan who has written letters about Olympic values as part of preparations for the 2026 Winter Games.

Giordano Bortolani

A basketball player who came up through the youth system of Olimpia Milano and has played in Italy's top and second divisions.

Matilde Napoli

The deputy head of a high school whose students created graphic designs highlighting Olympic-inspired principles.

Massimo Aquino

The president of CSI, an organization that is helping bring faith and sports together with youths through the Tour of Sports Values program.

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What they’re saying

“This is not about changing lives through elite performance. It's about how sport helps young people learn from being together.”

— Valentina Piazza, Project manager, CSI for the World

“With the Winter Olympics happening here in Milan, it's all about Olympic values. The values of sport, and of life as well.”

— Giordano Bortolani, Basketball player

“The idea is to rethink sport not only as competition or performance, but also as a vehicle for ethical principles such as cooperation, respect, solidarity and inclusion.”

— Matilde Napoli, Deputy head, high school

“The most beautiful thing is that, for generations, Italians have grown up learning the values of life in oratories, chasing after a ball. From this experience of sport born in oratories, many champions have emerged and grown.”

— Massimo Aquino, President, CSI

“There is a beauty in sport itself, but sometimes a young person may be interested in hearing the point of view of an athlete. That's how it was for me when I was younger.”

— Giordano Bortolani, Basketball player

What’s next

The Tour of Sports Values program will continue through February 20, 2026, involving around 13,000 young people from schools, parish youth centers and sports clubs across the Milan archdiocese.

The takeaway

By using the excitement around the 2026 Winter Olympics, the Catholic Archdiocese of Milan is leveraging sports to teach children important values like excellence, friendship and respect, and showing how these principles can be applied in everyday life. The program highlights the longstanding role of parish-based 'oratories' in Italy as spaces that foster community, social interaction and the development of young athletes.