The Slovenia House at the Olympic Games in Cortina

Over the past decades, national houses have become a key part of the Olympic experience and one of the most powerful platforms for national promotion. They are not merely fan hubs, but spaces for diplomacy, economic cooperation, international networking, cultural exchange and strategic national promotion.

The Olympic Games are a global platform that goes far beyond sport. Billions of viewers and tens of thousands of visitors are drawn by the stories, achievements, values and humanity of the athletes. Sport is often a country’s most recognisable ambassador, and few communication campaigns can achieve comparable international reach or such genuine attention.

In this environment, Slovenia has a significant advantage: world-class athletes, the recognisable national brand I feel Slovenia, strong support from numerous stakeholders, and a tradition of successful Slovenia Houses.

The Slovenia House in Cortina

The Slovenia House will be located in the centre of Cortina, at the very heart of the Olympic action, just one hundred metres from the main Olympic stage. The location ensures exceptional visibility, while the spatial and programme design allows for up to 250 visitors at the same time. It will be a place for meeting athletes, partners, fans, media representatives and numerous international stakeholders.

A visit to the Slovenia House will present Slovenia as a successful sporting nation that is innovative, green and creative; an attractive tourist destination; culturally rich, sustainability-oriented and scientifically advanced. Due to the large distances between venues, special Olympic points will also be activated in Bormio and Predazzo, where, in the event of a medal win, athletes will be welcomed on an ad hoc basis.

“The Slovenia House will show the world just how exceptional Slovenians are – in sport, culture, tourism and the economy,” said Franjo Bobinac, President of the Olympic Committee of Slovenia. Slovenia will appear under the unified brand I feel Slovenia, with the support of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia, the Ministry of the Economy, Tourism and Sport, and numerous partners.

Petra Bezjak Cirman, Director of the Government Communication Office, highlighted that the Olympic Games are one of the most powerful global platforms for national promotion, and that Slovenia will use the Slovenia House to showcase its creativity, green orientation and openness. “The Slovenian House in Cortina is a strategic project, placed at the very centre of the Olympic events. Under the unified brand I feel Slovenia, it will connect sport, the economy, tourism, culture, science and sustainability, and present Slovenia to the world as a small yet exceptionally creative, green, progressive and open country,” she emphasised.

She added: “It will be a meeting place for athletes, business representatives, media and fans; a venue for receptions, business events, cultural and scientific content, and a culinary presentation of the Land of Tastes, as well as an important media hub. I invite all fans, partners and visitors to join us at the Slovenia House in Cortina.”

The Ministry of the Economy, Tourism and Sport has allocated EUR 900,000 for the preparation and qualification of Slovenian athletes, and an additional EUR 1 million for the implementation of the Slovenia House.

Around 40 athletes in the Slovenian Olympic team

“We estimate that the Slovenian Olympic team will consist of around 40 athletes, and together with support staff approximately 100 members. The final list of athletes travelling to the Games will be known around 20 January next year,” said Blaž Perko, Head of the Milano Cortina 2026 Slovenian Team and Director of the Sports Sector at the Olympic Committee of Slovenia.

The Olympic Games are returning to Cortina d’Ampezzo after 70 years. In 1956, 15 athletes competed at the Olympic Games for the then Yugoslavia – all of them Slovenians. They competed in three disciplines: cross-country skiing, alpine skiing and ski jumping.

Among the participants at the time were brothers Cveto Pavčič and Janez Pavčič, who competed in cross-country skiing at the 1956 Cortina Games and shared their memories of the Olympics. “The Olympic Games were an extraordinary and life-changing experience, and we are immensely proud to have been part of them. From an organisational point of view, the Games then and now are impossible to compare, but the feelings and memories remain,” they said. At the same time, they emphasised that they still follow sporting events very closely.

The Slovenia House will also have an outstanding ambassador: two-time Olympic champion Tina Maze. During the Games, she will take part in meetings, receptions and international appearances, further strengthening the link between Slovenia’s sporting tradition and its contemporary national image.

Welcome to the Slovenia House

The Slovenia House will be designed as a multifunctional space enabling a comprehensive presentation of the country. Visitors will discover the stories of our sporting heroes, learn about Slovenia’s economic and innovation potential, and explore its culture, tourism, science and sustainable approach. A top-quality culinary experience will be available, showcasing Slovenia’s gastronomic story and wine tastings. The Slovenia House will thus become our small Olympic embassy — a place where the world can not only see Slovenia, but truly feel it.

Slovenia first presented itself with a Slovenian House in 2010 in Vancouver, followed by PyeongChang 2018 and Paris 2024. All previous editions received exceptionally positive responses, strengthened the international recognition of the I feel Slovenia brand, and confirmed that a comprehensive, unified and strategically led approach is key to successful national promotion.

The Slovenia House in Cortina will be a place of meetings, cheering, creativity and Slovenian self-confidence.

All fans, partners, media representatives and visitors are warmly invited to visit us and experience the Olympic spirit together under the I feel Slovenia brand.