The International Olympic Committee announced Monday that Italy will be the site of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games.
The games will be held in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, a nearby Alpine ski resort. Italy beat out Sweden, which proposed Stockholm, a bobsled track in Latvia, and Åre, also a ski resort, as potential sites for the games.
This will be Italy’s third Winter Games. The country held the 2006 Winter Games in Turin and the 1956 games in Cortina d’Ampezzo. Despite being a winter sport powerhouse, Sweden has yet to host the Winter Games.
The International Olympic Committee voted 47-34 in favor of Italy after impassioned speeches and pitches from both countries. The announcement was met with loud cheers of “Italia! Italia!” from the Italian delegation.
“If I am here today in front of you, it is thanks to the enthusiasm of all Italy … This is the dream of an entire country, and not only the government but also the regions,” Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said prior to the announcement.
Italy was chosen despite its mounting debt crisis. According to Forbes, the country’s debt totaled 131.2% of its GDP in 2018.
“There will be at least five billion (euros) in added value, 20,000 jobs, as well as many new roads and sports facilities,” Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said. “With the Winter Olympics, we will confirm our excellence and our skills to the world.”
Support from local residents was a large deciding factor for the committee. Internal IOC polling showed 85% support from Italians compared to 60% in Sweden, according to the Associated Press. The IOC also expressed concern in Sweden’s ability to underwrite the event and Stockholm as an appropriate venue.
The Italian provinces of Lombardy and Veneto are planning to underwrite the cost of the games.
“They are two of the richest provinces in Europe,” Italian Undersecretary of State Giancarlo Giorgetti said in a news conference. “They certainly have the capacity, they have the readiness, they have the finances in order to be able to support the event.”
The IOC will contribute a least $925 million toward the estimated operating costs of $1.7 billion.
After Russia spent nearly $51 billion on the 2014 games in Sochi, the International Olympic Committee has placed an emphasis on reducing costs and using preexisting facilities. They are encouraging nations and regions to partner in future bids.
