The event that served as a meeting point for professionals in Security, Operations and reputation management ahead of the Milano Cortina Olympics and the major events of 2026 took place on Tuesday, 18 November, from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at BIP Liberty Tower in Milan.

OBJECTIVES

The meeting, sponsored by ASIS Italy Chapter and AIPSA, brought together institutions and companies to discuss what happens when something occurs, who does what, and how rapid decisions can be made without losing control, drawing inspiration from the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. SAFE 2026 was an opportunity to build a concrete bridge between Italy and the United States, exchange working methods and create valuable relationships.

The programme was structured in two main sessions. The first clarified roles, responsibilities and decision-making processes between the public and private sectors, with concrete examples on how to manage information and coordinate responses. The second focused on field activities: event venues, movement of staff and guests, essential checks on suppliers and logistics, with simple measures that truly work. The event concluded with an operational summary: ten actions to take back to one’s company immediately.

SPEAKERS

Manuel Di Casoli, Global Strategic Advisor and former Security Director of Expo Milano 2015, moderated the numerous presentations, including those of Dr. Enrico Pirastru, Global Security Director at Fincantieri; Edward T. Glospie, Special Agent of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service; James Destefano, CEO of W1 Global Inc. and former Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC) for special operations, overseeing crisis preparedness and response in the U.S. and abroad; Luke C. Bencie, CEO of Security Management International (SMI) and author of nine books, former consultant for the U.S. Department of State and Department of Defense, Fortune 500 companies and foreign governments, having operated in over 100 countries; representatives of the FIFA World Cup 2026 such as Andrey Reis, Executive Director for Safety and Security Operations, and Phil Walker, Risk Manager and Head of Risk Assessment, Analysis and C4.

Participants also included Claudio De Paoli, Equity Partner & Head of BIP CyberSec, and Alberto Paganini, Equity Partner at BIP CyberSec.

From the institutions, the contribution came from General Rodolfo Santovito, Provincial Commander of the Carabinieri in Milan, and Colonel Giuseppe Molorolo, Commander of the Milan Rapid Response Group of the Guardia di Finanza.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENTATIONS

Dr. Enrico Pirastru (Fincantieri) highlighted parallels between supply chain risks in large companies and mega-events. The challenges of an ethical supply chain—with 18 shipyards around the world, 7,000 suppliers, and 60,000 employees and related workforce—are the same as those faced by large event organisers.

Phil Walker, Risk Manager for FIFA World Cup 2026, explained that FIFA has revolutionised its operating model for organising both the men’s and women’s World Cups. Unlike in the past, when it followed an approach similar to that of the IOC by relying on a local organising committee, FIFA has now adopted a more integrated and centralised structure. This shift has resulted in the creation of three local entities or subsidiaries, enabling a more direct, efficient and coherent management of the event. The goal is to ensure high standards, reduce operational risk and maximise the positive global impact of football, while strengthening collaboration with host countries.

Andrey Reis, Executive Director for Safety and Security Operations for FIFA World Cup 2026, emphasised the fundamental importance of public-private partnership—between event organisers, security agencies and law enforcement. Without them, it would be impossible to guarantee the high standards that have made the World Cup a consistent success over the years.

General Rodolfo Santovito (Carabinieri) confirmed the value of comparing different security perspectives and the need for cooperation between all actors, both public and private. SAFE 2026 is a crucial moment of dialogue, as it offers an opportunity to mutually enrich perspectives and strengthen the awareness that today, more than ever, each side needs the other. The Carabinieri’s strong presence both nationally and internationally, as well as their role in building Italy’s democratic system, might encourage a sense of self-reliance. However, in 2025, even the most efficient public security system—especially, he noted, for the benefit of the American colleagues—cannot consider itself fully adequate unless it embraces an integrated and cooperative vision of security.

The current context requires working together with institutions, local communities and private entities, always respecting the competencies established by law. He recalled that cooperation with local communities is part of the Carabinieri’s DNA: although a military force, their identity is deeply rooted in listening and institutional empathy. In a city like Milan, preparing to host a global event such as the Olympics, cooperation is not optional but essential. It is precisely in such contexts that an integrated security vision must prove tangible and effective.

Colonel Giuseppe Molorolo (Guardia di Finanza) noted that the activities related to organising the Olympic and Paralympic Games are naturally exposed to significant operational risks, and that his unit has already been informed that it will be heavily involved, in synergy with other police forces, in addressing these challenges. Among their primary tasks will be the protection of VIPs—both Italian and foreign—travelling through or staying in the city for the events, as well as the surveillance of competition venues. However, the most demanding commitment will be managing this particularly intense period for Milan: the aim will be to strengthen territorial control activities to ensure the free movement of citizens and visitors, while also supporting the local economy. The goal is to ensure that Milan gains a special boost from this global event, while guaranteeing that everything unfolds in a climate of safety and normalcy.

Manuel Di Casoli, former Security Director of Expo Milano 2015, stressed that during the preparation of major events, success depends not only on formal documents but above all on the trust and personal relationships built over time. This is the true result of effective planning. Recalling his experience at Expo, he cited Dwight Eisenhower—perhaps the greatest operations strategist in history, who managed 6,000 ships and two million men—saying: “Planning is everything, but plans are nothing.” Despite the long and complex planning process for Expo, much of what was planned on paper did not unfold as imagined. Strength lies in the ability to adapt, relying on the people and relationships that make it possible to overcome the unexpected.

Edward T. Glospie, a former Special Agent of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, focused on the nature of ideological threats. Glospie, who has vast military and protection experience, including service for several U.S. Secretaries of State and at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, emphasised that ideological threats extend beyond traditional terrorism and include low-level disruption. He criticised static security approaches that fail to adapt to evolving tactics used by those seeking to advance ideological agendas. He provided examples of how seemingly harmless actions—such as distributing flyers at a tourist site—can be part of a tactical progression that escalates into calls for violence and more serious disruptions.

Jim Destefano, CEO of W1 Global Inc. and former Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC) for special operations, described the cultural evolution of the Federal Bureau of Investigation toward greater collaboration with partners: “Words like cooperation, information sharing, and playing a support role are not things typically associated with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. However, the changing threat landscape in the United States over the last 25 years, based on attacks by state actors, well-financed terrorist groups, and increasingly sophisticated transnational organized crime groups… has forced us to have a very real change in culture.”

Luke C. Bencie, CEO of SMI, traced the essence of security back to the famous Socratic maxim: “Know thyself.” This is precisely what one does when conducting a vulnerability assessment: analysing internal structures, weaknesses and defences. But security does not stop there. Through a threat assessment, you study your adversaries’ capabilities and intentions. As Sun Tzu reminds us, “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the outcome of a hundred battles.” Only by combining these two forms of awareness—knowledge of ourselves and knowledge of external threats—can we truly prevail in the security challenge.

Alberto Paganini (BIP CyberSec) illustrated the concept of security as a “product” rather than a “sum” of components, particularly in cyber-physical convergence: “Why? For the simple reason that security depends on all parts working. Its components are not a sum of things… but their product […] and in a multiplication, if one of the factors is zero, the result is zero.”

CONCLUSIONS

The Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games represent a historic event for Italy, returning to host the Winter Games after Turin 2006. This extraordinary event will bring athletes and spectators from all over the world to a territory stretching from Milan’s modern infrastructure to the enchanting mountains of Veneto and South Tyrol. However, such an event also presents a complex security challenge: the simultaneous management of multiple venues across a wide geographic area, the influx of thousands of people, the presence of international delegations, and global media attention require unprecedented coordination between law enforcement, civil protection and local authorities. Cybersecurity, access control, the prevention of terrorist threats and emergency management will be crucial to ensure that this celebration of sport takes place in an atmosphere of safety and serenity.