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Early data shows Americans drive over a third of foreign spending. And the bills are huge: Australians average €2,600 per booking, while the Dutch pay over €1,300. And the Italians? Because tickets are quite pricy, it looks like many are staying home.
But maybe it is easier to watch from the sofa? These are the most dispersed Olympics in history, spreading over 22,000 square kilometres.
So if you want to see skiing after the skating, get ready for a five-hour drive.
And the organisers promise these games will be “green”. Other Olympics were meant to be green, too, like the Sochi 2014 Winter Games in Russia.
And that ended with illegal waste dumps in national parks and a €46.6 billion price tag, fuelled by corruption. But we will not see their flag this time, as Russia is banned because of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
And what about the residents? In a recent survey, the majority foresee a “positive regional impact” and lasting improvements in infrastructure and transport.
And if they are right, the lasting prize will not be the skiing, but a region finally connected for good.
Let’s just hope that during these Olympics, the only ICE they have to deal with is the one on the mountains.
Watch the Euronews video in the player above for the full story.
