11 March 2019
International Olympic Committee evaluates Sweden’s bid

Today, Monday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) begins a week-long visit to Sweden, discussing plans for the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, and visiting the proposed venues for the event.

The group of around 15 – consisting of delegates, experts and officials – will be joined by IOC Executive Director Christophe Dubi and IOC member Octavian Morariu to evaluate the Stockholm Åre 2026 bid.

The Evaluation Commission starts its visit in Åre on Tuesday morning where it will be received by, among others, Gunilla Lindberg, member of the IOC’s Executive Committee and Secretary General of the Swedish Olympic Committee (SOK), Richard Brisius, CEO of Stockholm Åre 2026 and SOK Chairman Mats Årjes.

“This is an important and exciting week in our work to host the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 2026,” said Richard Brisius.

“It’s an opportunity to showcase our world-class facilities and describe how we would like to implement the Winter Olympics in seven years.”

He continued: “We welcome the IOC group, who are all real experts in this field, and we look forward to listening to their thoughts and suggestions on how we could possibly improve and refine our bid.”

Following the visit to Åre, the Commission will travel to Stockholm for meetings and arena inspections. On Thursday, there will be a trip to Falun, before the Stockholm meeting continues until Saturday lunchtime, when the visit ends.

The objective is for the Commission to visit all of the Swedish venues, locations and arenas where the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games would be held in 2026. 

The group won’t visit the Latvian city of Sigulda – where bobsleigh, luge and skeleton events would be held in 2026 – but the IOC will work with international sports federations in the relevant disciplines to complete this evaluation.

The members of the Evaluation Commission will then return to their respective home countries, before reconvening in one week for an evaluation visit to Milan/Cortina – which, just like Stockholm Åre, has also bid to host the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

The final decision on which bid, either that of Stockholm Åre or that of Milan/Cortina, will be selected to host the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 2026 will be made on 24 June 2019. 

Source: anocolympic.org


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