The Latest: Lippi believes Italian unity gives it the edge

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — The Latest on the 2026 Olympics vote (all times local):

12:15 p.m.

World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi believes the unity behind Italy’s bid for the 2026 Winter Olympics will give it the edge.

Lippi, who led Italy to World Cup glory in 2006, spoke to reporters after a closed-doors session where IOC members quizzed the Milan-Cortina bid team about the 2026 Olympics project.

Lippi says: “What I can say is that never before has Italy given such a clear sense of solidity, of cohesion and of cooperation. It was something very beautiful.”

Italy has had to scrap two recent bids for the Summer Olympics.

Three years ago it was forced to end Rome’s bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics because of staunch opposition from the city mayor. And in 2012, then-premier Mario Monti scrapped the city’s candidacy for the 2020 Olympics because of financial concerns.

Lippi is currently coach of China. Earlier in the day, it was announced the IOC has extended its sponsorship deal with Coca-Cola from 2021 through 2032 in a first-ever joint commercial deal with Chinese dairy company Mengniu.

Beijing is the 2022 Winter Games host, and China internet giant Alibaba is already one of the 13 top-tier Olympic sponsors.