Milan–Cortina d'Ampezzo bid for the 2026 Winter Olympics

Bids for the
2026 (2026) Winter Olympics and Paralympics
Overview
XXV Olympic Winter Games
XIV Paralympic Winter Games
Winner: Milan–Cortina d'Ampezzo
Runner-up: Stockholm–Åre
Details
CityMilan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy
ChairGiovanni Malagò
NOCItalian National Olympic Committee (ITA)
Previous Games hosted
None (Milan)
1956 Winter Olympics (Cortina d'Ampezzo)
Bid for 2000 Summer (Milan)
Decision
Result47 votes (Winner)
www.milanocortina2026.org

Milan–Cortina d'Ampezzo 2026 (Italian: Milan–Cortina d'Ampezzo; Ladin: Milano-Anpezo 2026 or Milano-Ampëz 2026) was a successful bid for the 2026 Winter Olympics by the cities of Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo and the Italian National Olympic Committee.[1] The IOC selected Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo to host the 2026 Winter Olympics at the 134th IOC Session in Lausanne, Switzerland on 24 June 2019.

History

Considered Milan together with Valtellina as suitable candidates. The plan was for Milan to host the ice sports, while the snow sports would take place in Bormio, Santa Caterina di Valfurva and Livigno, which are already well-known destinations for Alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, biathlon, etc.[2][3]

On 10 March 2018, the mayor of Turin, Chiara Appendino, confirmed on her Facebook page[4][non-primary source needed] that a bid to host the Games on the 20th anniversary of the 2006 Winter Olympics was being explored. She suggested that the bid would introduce a new, revolutionary model for hosting the Games, with sustainability at the forefront.[5] On 17 March, Appendino sent a letter to CONI officially expressing her support, after having resolved an initial split in support amongst fellow council members.[6] The following week, municipal council gave the green light to start the procedure for the establishment of a "Torino 2026" association. The not-for-profit entity will have the task of overseeing the analysis and research necessary to evaluate the feasibility of an eventual candidature of Turin to host the Winter Olympics.[7]

On 29 March 2018, two days before the deadline for cities to join the dialogue stage, it was confirmed that CONI would bid to host the 2026 Games in Milan and Turin and a letter of intent had been sent to the IOC.[8] The bid is complicated by the fact that the 134th IOC Session is scheduled to be held in Milan in 2019. If an Italian city proceeds to the candidature stage, the venue for the IOC session will need to be changed to a different country.

A decision on which city leads the potential Italian bid for the 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games will be made on either 1 August or 17 September 2018.[9] On 4 July 2018 the mayor of Turin, Chiara Appendino, announced in a conference the project and the candidacy for "Turin 2026", defining the opportunity of a double candidature with Milan "a chit-chat of the press I haven't seen yet". On 1 August 2018, CONI confirmed that all bidding cities will bid jointly using existing facilities and presented a proposal for a combined Cortina-Milan-Turin bid to CONI.[10][11]

On 18 September 2018, the CONI announced it will present a bid with Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, excluding Turin after the city withdrew from the bid.[12] On 19 September 2018, Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said the Italian government would support a 2026 Winter Olympics bid. Furthermore, the CONI considered it would accept an eventual return of Turin in the Italian bid.[13][14]

On 1 October 2018, the CONI confirmed the Milan–Cortina d'Ampezzo bid. Italian Government backs the Milan–Cortina bid for the 2026 Olympics, but will not make any financial investment. However, the regions of Lombardy and Veneto will try to finance the Games with private and public investments.[15][16][17] On 21 January 2019 the Italian government supported the Milan–Cortina bid. On 1 April 2019 Milan–Cortina d'Ampezzo were chosen as host cities. It will be the first Olympics to be held in Milan, mark the 20th anniversary of the 2006 Olympics in Turin, the 70th anniversary of the 1956 Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo and the 80th anniversary of the Italian Republic.

Previous bids

Milan had never hosted the Games, but they submitted a bid for the 2000 Summer Olympics, but it was later withdrawn before eventually awarded to Sydney.[18] Cortina d'Ampezzo hosted the 1956 Winter Olympics.

Italy hosted the Games three times and made seventeen bids (nine for Summer Games and seven for the Winter Olympics).

Branding

The Candidate City logo was unveiled on 27 November 2018 during its presentation at the ANOC General Assembly in Tokyo, Japan. The logo of its candidature the bid logo is a stylised Milan Cathedral with a façade that turns into a mountain, echoing the Alps and the Dolomites. The logo's green, white and red spires reflect the Italian flag, with the design asserted to show the unity between Milan and Cortina.

The slogan "Dreaming Together" (Italian: Sognando insieme) was unveiled on 1 April 2019. The bid book and website was launched on 11 January 2019.

Dates

The Winter Olympic Games will be from 6 to 22 February 2026 and the Winter Paralympic Games will be from 6 to 15 March 2026.

Venues

class=notpageimage|
Locations of the venues in Northern Italy

Milan Cluster

Valtellina Cluster

  • Bormio – alpine skiing
  • Livigno – snowboarding, freestyle skiing

Cortina d'Ampezzo Cluster

Val di Fiemme Cluster

Verona

References

  1. ^ "Olimpiadi, Giorgetti: "No del governo alla candidatura a 3 l'Ipotesi è morta qui"". 18 September 2018. Archived from the original on 13 December 2018. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  2. ^ dovesciare.it (16 June 2017). "Bormio – L'ipotesi Olimpiade Invernale Con Milano Nel 2026" (in Italian). Archived from the original on 21 September 2017. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  3. ^ dovesciare.it (18 September 2017). "Olimpiadi – Per L'Edizione Invernale 2026 Sala Propone Milano e Valtellina" (in Italian). Archived from the original on 21 September 2017. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  4. ^ "Chiara Appendino". facebook.com. Archived from the original on 2022-01-09. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
  5. ^ Alexia Penna (10 March 2018). "Olimpiadi 2026, arriva il via libera da Chiara Appendino". Citynews Spa. Archived from the original on 11 March 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  6. ^ ANSA (12 March 2018). "M5S in Turin split over Olympic bid". ANSA.it. Archived from the original on 28 March 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  7. ^ "Olimpiadi 2026, il primo passo". La Stampa. 27 March 2018. Archived from the original on 27 March 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  8. ^ "Olympics: Italy puts forward bid to host 2026 Games in Milan and Turin". Reuters.com. 29 March 2018. Archived from the original on 31 March 2018. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  9. ^ "Choice of Italian city to lead 2026 Winter Olympic bid delayed until August or September". insidethegames.biz. 10 July 2018. Archived from the original on 11 July 2018. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  10. ^ "Proposta della Commissione di Valutazione" (PDF). CONI. 1 August 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 September 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  11. ^ "Milan, Turin and Cortina d'Ampezzo to launch combined Italian bid for 2026 Winter Olympics". Archived from the original on 2019-06-24. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
  12. ^ "Italy's 2026 Olympic Bid Is "Dead" As Government Refuses To Support Conflicted Three-City Project, But Milan-Cortina Could Still Get Approved". Gamesbids. 18 September 2018. Archived from the original on 20 June 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  13. ^ "Italy Retains Government Backing for 2026 Bid". Around The Rings. 19 September 2018. Archived from the original on 9 January 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  14. ^ "Italy pursuing new two-way bid for 2026 Winter Olympics but claim door still open for Turin after withdrawal". Inside The Games. 19 September 2018. Archived from the original on 19 September 2018. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  15. ^ "Olimpiadi 2026, l'Italia candida Milano-Cortina. Malagò: "Un progetto innovativo"" (in Italian). Republica. 1 October 2018. Archived from the original on 25 June 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  16. ^ "La Lega vince la sfida della Olimpiadi. Il M5s va a rimorchio e Appendino resta a casa" (in Italian). Il Foglio. 1 October 2018. Archived from the original on 25 June 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  17. ^ "Italy confirm Milan and Cortina D'Ampezzo put forward for 2026 Winter Olympics but bid will not receive Government funding". Inside The Games. 1 October 2018. Archived from the original on 25 June 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  18. ^ "Milan Withdraws Olympic Bid". Los Angeles Times. 1993-03-11. Retrieved 2024-10-08.