The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced Monday that Milan-Cortina, Italy, will host the Olympic Winter Games 2026. The decision was taken today during a meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland, IOC said in a statement, adding Italy is a sport-loving nation, and winter sports are part of the tradition, culture, and identity of Northern Italy.
The region has world-class winter sports venues, ranging from the ice arenas of Milan to the well-established and iconic World Cup and World Championship destinations of Cortina, Bormio, Antholz and Val di Fiemme, it noted.
The plan is fully in line with the Olympic Agenda 2020 reforms, which call for making maximum use of existing and temporary venues if there is no post-Games demand for new permanent facilities, said IOC. With regard to competition venues, Milan-Cortina 2026 prioritizes sustainability and legacy, as 13 out of a total 14 facilities (93 percent) will be existing or temporary, it added. The project has the unified backing of the Italian sports movement, the private sector and national, regional, and city governments, providing a solid foundation for its delivery, said IOC.
“It features a clear vision to use the Games as a catalyst to boost economic development across Northern Italy, including supporting the regions to achieve their specific tourism goals, and to stimulate economic activities between the metropolitan and mountain areas,” said the statement
