What started as a pilot project at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games has already proven its value far beyond the French capital. The Athlete365 x Powerade Mind Zone, first introduced in Paris, recently made its next stop in all Olympic Villages of Milano-Cortina, including Anterselva, supporting athletes on their journey toward the Olympic Winter Games.

The idea behind the Mind Zone is simple but powerful: to provide a quiet, welcoming space where athletes can relax, recharge, and mentally reset in the middle of intense competition schedules. In venues that are often loud, busy, and emotionally charged, this space offered something rare: calm.

From Concept to Reality

Preparation was key. Finding the right room wasn’t easy: calm and protected, yet still easily accessible for athletes. Close cooperation with the Organising Committee and the IOC Safe Sport Unit helped make this possible. In the beginning, there were some challenges—adapting the concept to the day-to-day business of a live competition venue required flexibility and quick adjustments. But step by step, the Mind Zone became a natural part of the venue flow.

Spreading the Word

The space was promoted through IOC-led information events for Welfare Officers, athlete collaborations on social media, and good old word of mouth. Once athletes knew it was there, they came—and kept coming back.

A Space That Meets Athletes Where They Are

The Mind Zone was staffed by Lucie, Katha, and Fiona, always present with a clear philosophy: being available to talk when athletes wanted conversation, and equally ready to step back when someone simply needed silence.

Athletes used the space in many ways. Some came to cool down after training, others to focus before a race. Some had online sessions with their mental health coaches, while others wrote postcards, explored a mindfulness exercise with VR goggles, doodled or drew, or simply enjoyed a moment with a handful of gummy bears .

It was often the simplest things that made the biggest impact. For many athletes, writing a few lines home on a postcard became a grounding ritual—simple, human, and surprisingly powerful. Combined with the VR exercise, drawings, and (of course) gummy bears helped create an atmosphere that felt safe, informal, and athlete-centered.

More Than Just a Quiet Room

A fun fact perfectly illustrates the value of the space: when an accident blocked the road down to the valley and athletes and their teams where stuck in the venue after training, the Mind Zone became an especially helpful area—offering athletes a place to wait, decompress, and stay calm during an unexpected situation.

Looking Ahead

The positive feedback and strong collaboration with the Athlete365 staff confirmed that this concept works. We will continue this by providing similar calm spaces at future World Championships – ensuring that mental well-being remains a visible and practical part of elite sport environments.

Sometimes, all it takes is a quiet room, a postcard, and a few gummy bears to make a real difference.