The Canadian city of Calgary, the Swedish capital of Stockholm, as well as two Italian cities - Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, will compete for hosting the 2026 Winter Olympic Games, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said in a statement on Thursday.
BUENOS AIRES (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 05th October, 2018) The Canadian city of Calgary, the Swedish capital of Stockholm, as well as two Italian cities - Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, will compete for hosting the 2026 Winter Olympic Games, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said in a statement on Thursday.
"Considering the feasibility assessment of the Olympic Winter Games Working Group 2026 as well as the objectives of Olympic Agenda 2020/New Norm, the IOC EB [Executive Board] recommends that the IOC Session convening in Buenos Aires on 8 and 9 October invites the following Cities (in alphabetical order) to the Candidature Stage: Calgary, Milan/Cortina d'Ampezzo, Stockholm," the statement said.
The IOC thus rejected the bid of the Turkish city of Erzurum, which also sought hosting the 2026 Winter Olympics.
"The timing for 2026 is challenging. The concentration of investment in general infrastructure such as accommodation, transport, energy and telecoms would be extremely high. Significant investment would also be needed in sports venues. The region has limited experience in hosting major international winter sports events and would benefit from organizing further World Cups, World Championships and the Youth Olympic Games," the IOC said commenting on the decision to reject Erzurum's bid.
Calgary hosted the 1988 Winter Olympics, Stockholm the 1921 Olympics (which were not divided into winter and summer ones then), Cortina d'Ampezzo the 1956 Winter Olympics after it failed to host the 1944 games because of World War II. Milan and Erzurum have never hosted Olympic Games.
