2 August 2018

Milan, Turin and Cortina d'Ampezzo will launch a joint bid to host the 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Italy, it has been announced today.

The decision has been confirmed by the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI).

They claim it is an "innovative project intended to guarantee a balance between the respective territorial areas through the reinforcement of cohesion and respect between the areas identified to host the Games and the identification of solutions that provide the best chance for success of the candidacies for all of Italy".

No one city will lead the project and its governance remains to be confirmed.

Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala has already said that his city is not interested in being involved in the governance of a joint bid, however.

He reportedly informed CONI President Giovanni Malagò that they would still be willing to host Olympic events but criticised the supposed prevailing of "political reasons" over sporting and regional ones.


Milan would still host sports including curling, ice hockey, short track speed skating and figure skating.

Speed skating and other ice hockey games would take place in Turin, with slalom Alpine skiing in nearby Sestriere.

Sliding sports would be held alongside all other Alpine skiing events in Cortina, with Nordic combined and ski jumping in nearby in Val di Fiemme. 

Turin hosted the 2006 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Cortina staged the 1956 Winter Olympic Games.

Livigno would host freestyle skiing, Valtellina would form the location for cross-country skiing and biathlon and snowboard competitions would be held in Bormio.

There will be no new venues required, it is claimed, and CONI hope that the total cost will be €376.5 million (£334.88 million/£439.23 million).

A venue for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies has not yet been confirmed, but Milan is viewed as the most likely location.

Read more: https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1068224/milan-turin-and-cortina-dampezzo-to-launch-combined-...


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