LAUSANNE: Italy will host the 2026 Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, taking the Winter Games to the Alpine country for the second time in 20 years. Italy last hosted in Torino in 2006, and the Alpine ski resort Cortina previously hosted the Winter Games in 1956.
International Olympic Committee members voted for the long-favored Milan-Cortina bid over a bid from Stockholm-Are, Sweden, that also included a bobsled track in Latvia.
Milan-Cortina’s jubilant delegation broke into chants of “Italia! Italia!” when the result was announced.
Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo are promising an Italian Olympics packed with style after winning the right to stage the 2026 Winter Games.
Milan earned 47 votes from the International Olympic Committee membership, compared to Stockholm’s 34, prompting loud celebrations from the bid team, which had earlier included Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte.
“Italy, the future and sport have won,” Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said back in Italy.
“Thanks to those who believed in it right away, especially in the Municipalities and Regions, and a pity for those who gave up.
“There will be at least $8.2 billion in added value, 20,000 jobs, as well as many new roads and sports facilities. With the Winter Olympics we will confirm our excellence and our skills to the world.”
Milan and Stockholm were the only candidates left after four other cities — Switzerland’s Sion, Japan’s Sapporo, Austria’s Graz and 1988 hosts Calgary in Canada — had dropped out of the race with concerns over the size and cost of the event. (Agencies)
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