Milan-Cortina 2026 bid boosted by government support

MILAN (AP) — The Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo bid for the 2026 Winter Olympics has been boosted by a key letter of financial support from the Italian government.

The letter signed by Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte was delivered to Octavian Morariu, the chair of the IOC’s evaluation commission, which is concluding a weeklong inspection of the bid sites.

The letter from Conte promises that the government would provide security for the games, handle anti-doping expenditures and coordinate visas for visiting athletes, officials and fans.

In another showing of the government’s support, Interior Minister Matteo Salvini met with IOC inspectors.

Meanwhile, questions remain over the Swedish government’s support of the Stockholm-Are bid, the only other candidate for 2026.

The IOC will vote on the 2026 host on June 24 in Lausanne, Switzerland.