2026 Bid; Milan – Cortina d’Ampezzo chosen ahead of Stockholm – Åre to host Games (liveblog)

IOC President Thomas Bach announces Delegates from Milan - Cortina win the 2026 Winter Olympics during the first day of the 134th IOC Session at Swisstech

 

Timeline

11:09 CEST Liveblog closed
10:55 CEST

25 June 2019
23:56 CEST This will be the fourth time that Italy has hosted the Olympic Games: previously hosting the event in 1956, 1960 and 2006. Read more here.
20:54 CEST Press release by the IOC;
 

Milan-Cortina emphasises hopes for the Olympic Winter Games 2026 in Italy
Milan-Cortina celebrates the decision to host the Olympic Winter Games 2026, and expresses gratitude following the host city announcement at the 134th Session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

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20:35 CEST Proposed dates;
Olympic Games: from 6 to 22 February 2026
Paralympic Games: from 6 to 15 March 2026
19:33 CEST

19:15 CEST Statement by Stockholm – Åre 2026;
 

No Winter Games in Sweden
Stockholm Åre 2026 are very proud of what we have built together with many stakeholders over the past two years – and our presentations here today. We have delivered a concept, to the Olympic movement, which is modern, sustainable and forward-thinking – and which is fully in line with what is described in Agenda 2020 and in the ‘New Norm’.

Our hope and expectation has been that the IOC would be ready to move from words to action and have confidence in Sweden’s ability to deliver the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games based on our proposal and vision.

We neither want, nor can present, a concept that involves major government grants and guarantees – or change the legislation – for a sports competition.

For now, we will return home to Sweden and reflect on this result – whilst taking the positive collaborative forces with us to other future sports initiatives.

We will come back in due time to the issue of future bids.

The Stockholm Åre 2026 team wishes Milano-Cortina the best of luck in the preparation and implementation of the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games 2026.

Stockholm Åre 2026

19:05 CEST Press release by the IPC;
 

Milan-Cortina to stage 2026 Winter Paralympics
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has congratulated Milan-Cortina 2026 after they won the right to host the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

At the 134th IOC Session in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Monday (24 June), Milan-Cortina polled the majority of votes from IOC members, finishing ahead of Stockholm-Åre.

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18:56 CEST

18:35 CEST Results of the election for the Host City of the Olympic Winter Games 2026:

134th IOC Session
Results
Host of the Winter Olympic Games 2026

Voting cards distributed: 82
Valid votes: 81
Abstentions (including blank votes): 1
Majority: 41

Stockholm – Åre: 34
Milan – Cortina: 47

18:30 CEST Livestream: Host City 2026 press conference
18:24 CEST Read more about the masterplan and venues of Milan – Cortina d’Ampezzo here
18:14 CEST Press release by the IOC;
 

Milan-Cortina awarded the Olympic Winter Games 2026
Milan-Cortina, Italy, will host the Olympic Winter Games 2026. The decision was taken today during the 134th Session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Lausanne, Switzerland.

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18:11 CEST

18:09 CEST

18:04 CEST Milan – Cortina d’Ampezzo will host the Winter Olympic Games in 2026.
24 June 2019

2026 Bid; Analysis of the polling results

In the past year, we asked visitors to this site which host city they preferred for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games. In the graph below (click to enlarge) you will find the results of these polls.

The 134th IOC Session and the election of the host city for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games will take place on June 24.

 

Read more;

2026 Bid; Government support for both candidates

 

Press release by Stockholm Åre 2026;

Swedish government pledges support to Stockholm Åre 2026 Olympic bid

The Swedish government has publicly expressed its support to the Stockholm Åre 2026 Olympic bid, with Sports Minister Amanda Lind confirming that the whole government is ‘united’ behind Sweden’s proposal to host the world’s biggest winter sports event in seven years.

The backing of the bid is a huge boost to the Stockholm Åre 2026 bid, which would see Sweden host its first ever Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games – and first Olympic Games since 1912.

The International Olympic Committee is due to make an official selection on 24 June 2019, with Italy’s Milan-Cortina the other candidate city in the running.

“It would be great for Sweden to host an Olympic Games,” said Amanda Lind, Swedish Sports Minister, in an interview with Swedish television station, TV4.

“For the entire sports movement, it would be a huge boost. As Sports Minister, I’m glad that we have been able to give this backing. The government is united behind the decision.”

Stockholm Åre 2026 outlines a flexible and forward-thinking proposal that aims to deliver the most sustainable Olympic Games in history, and Lind added that this approach could send a clear message to the rest of the world.

“If we get the Olympic Games, it would be very positive in the way the Swedish Olympic Committee and the Swedish Paralympic Committee have planned the Olympics. It would be a way for Sweden to show how sports events can take place in the future, and to be able to show that one can do it without expensive new builds – in a sustainable and climate-smart way,” she continued.

Stockholm Åre 2026 CEO Richard Brisius is delighted that the government has placed its support firmly behind the bid – and believes that sending this message further strengthens Sweden’s campaign.

“We are pleased that the Swedish government and our politicians, like us, think that an Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 2026 would be good for Sweden and the Olympic movement,” he said.

“We have already seen huge support from the public, business community and different stakeholders across the country, and it’s fantastic that the Government has now pledged its full support as well.”

“We have been working closely and continuing a dialogue with the Government and other important stakeholders for many months, so for us, this decision is not unexpected.”

He added: “We all know that the only votes that matter will occur on 24 June 2019 by the IOC members in Lausanne. Between now and then, we will continue to work hard and showcase our plan for a truly sustainable Winter Games, not just for 2026, but for every Games beyond that.

“That’s what ‘Made In Sweden’ really means – quality you can count on, and passionate people you can trust to deliver.”

 

Press release by Comitato Olimpico Nazionale Italiano (Italian National Olympic Committee);

Italian Government signs guarantees for bid. Giorgetti delivers letter to the IOC Commission

The Italian Government has signed the guarantees in support of the Milan-Cortina 2026 bid. The announcement came at the start of the afternoon stage of the Seminar related to the visit by the IOC Evaluation Commission, held at the Palazzo Reale in Milan. The Undersecretary at the Presidency of the Council of Ministers in charge of Sport, Giancarlo Giorgetti, announced the Government’s decision, before delivering the official document signed by the Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte, to Octavian Morariu, the IOC member overseeing the international delegation. The important document arrived on the second last day of the Evaluation Commission’s tour. The host of the 2026 Winter Olympics will be chosen on 24 June at the IOC Session in Lausanne.

 

You can read more about the 2026 host city election here.

2026 Bid; Candidature files – Press releases IOC and Stockholm 2026

IOC

STOCKHOLM-ARE AND MILAN-CORTINA SUBMIT INNOVATIVE GAMES PLANS FOR THE OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES 2026

THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE (IOC) TODAY RECEIVED CANDIDATURE FILES FROM STOCKHOLM-ARE (SWEDEN) AND MILAN-CORTINA (ITALY)* FOR THE OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES 2026.

The Chair of the IOC Evaluation Commission for the Olympic Winter Games 2026, Octavian Morariu, said: “With these two traditional sports countries as candidates, we see the very positive impact of the Olympic Agenda 2020 reforms. Both countries have vast experience in organising World Cups and World Championships, with existing infrastructure and experienced operators. This has allowed the candidates to reduce the investment needed and increase the sustainability of their projects.”

These are the first Candidature Files produced since Olympic Agenda 2020/The New Norm was approved by the IOC Session in February 2018, and its recommendations are already delivering substantial benefits to the Cities and their projects.

On average, the Candidate Cities 2026 will use 80 per cent existing or temporary venues, compared to 60 per cent among the candidates for the Olympic Winter Games 2018 and 2022. In addition, the initial Games operating costs projected by the Cities are on average 20 per cent (approximately USD 400 million) lower than those in the two previous candidature processes.

In their documentation, the Cities have shared their strong visions for hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games 2026, detailing how they would deliver the event in a sustainable manner, bringing long-term tangible benefits to residents, locally, regionally and nationally. The names of the candidatures reflect the projects and their maximum use of existing, traditional winter sports venues. Each of the candidatures has also outlined its plans for ensuring unique Games-time experiences for athletes, spectators and media.

The files received today and the other documents submitted during the process will form part of an analysis by the IOC Evaluation Commission, which will also visit each City. The Commission will be in Stockholm-Are from 12 to 16 March and Milan-Cortina from 2 to 6 April 2019. The Commission’s report will be made public ahead of the host city election, which will take place in June this year during the 134th IOC Session in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Morariu added: “I am delighted that these two great projects already demonstrate a clear vision about the lasting legacies to be delivered in their respective communities, which have successfully hosted many winter sports events in the past. We are now looking forward to reviewing the Candidature Files and continuing to work in partnership with the Cities to further develop and refine their plans.”

As with previous Candidature Processes, the IOC will not release the files, but has informed the Cities that they can make the documents public if they wish to do so.

*Cities are listed in the order of drawing of lots as performed by the IOC Executive Board.

Source: International Olympic Committee
Full article: Stockholm-Are and Milan-Cortina submit innovative Games plans for the Olympic Winter Games 2026

 

Stockholm Åre 2026

SWEDEN SUBMITS ITS 2026 OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC WINTER GAMES CANDIDATURE FILE

Stockholm Åre 2026 submitted its Candidature File to host the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 2026 to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Friday January 11, 2019.

The majority of the Stockholm City council support the Swedish bid for the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, including the use of the City of Stockholm’s venues should Sweden be awarded the Games.

As presented to the IOC and Olympic Movement late last year, the ground-breaking Stockholm Åre 2026 bid proposes many events in the Stockholm region, most alpine events in Åre, ski jumping and Nordic combined in Falun, and sliding sports in Sigulda, Latvia.

“Hosting the Winter Games in 2026 would be an incredible honor and opportunity for Stockholm and our people, both before, during and after the Games. This applies to both direct and indirect effects on growth for sport, the labor market, and our economy in general”, says the Governor of the Stockholm Region, Sven-Erik Österberg.

“In Åre, we are thrilled and honored to be a part of Sweden’s bid to host the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. It is a natural opportunity for us, given we have all the needed venues in place and the expertise on hand. Åre organized the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in 2007 and will again in 2019.” says Daniel Danielsson (C), chairman of the Town Council of Åre Municipality.

Stockholm Åre 2026 is based on Sweden’s unique implementation of a sustainable Games concept, according to the IOC’s renewed emphasis on affordability, sustainability and tangible legacy for the Games. This means using as many existing venues as possible and building few, if any, new ones. Stockholm Åre 2026 will be the first Olympic Winter Games to benefit from this new direction for the future, where costs, complexity, risk and waste are replaced by flexibility, partnership, efficiency and sustainability.

“The good news is that the IOC’s new emphasis on sustainability isn’t new to Sweden – it’s how we’ve always conducted business. Stockholm Åre 2026 will be a platform for development and innovation in the fields of sustainability, social responsibility, financial prudence and environmental awareness. We can prove that sustainability is a natural and integral part of the Winter Games concept. Our bid is about much more that the Winter Games of 2026, it is about embracing a new reality for hosting Games in the future”, says Richard Brisius CEO of the Stockholm Åre 2026 bid.

“Sweden has a unique advantage as a future host nation because over many years, we have invested heavily in the construction of the stadia, airports, ground transportation, hotels, and other facilities needed to host a Winter Games. The Games should be based on the values of ‘reduce, reuse, and recycle’. Therefore, our premise is simple: We propose a Winter Games concept that fits our existing resources, we are not changing or adding resources to fit the Games.”

Should Sweden win the vote to host the Games on June 24, 2019 at the 134th IOC Session in Lausanne, the proposed Games schedule would be 6 – 22 February 2026 for the Winter Olympics and 6 – 15 March 2026 for the Winter Paralympics.

Source: Stockholm 2026
Full article: Sweden Submits its 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Candidature File