Imperial Valley Press

Swiss lawmakers agree on $1B backing for 2026 Olympic bid

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GENEVA (AP) — Switzerlan­d’s federal government said Wednesday it is prepared to pay almost $1.02 billion toward Sion hosting the 2026 Winter Olympics.

The Swiss federal council voted to support the proposed candidatur­e, which could still be stopped by public opposition. Federal councilor Guy Parmelin, who heads the department for sports, said the project would be withdrawn if a referendum was lost.

Swiss support comes three days after voters in Austria rejected a proposed 2026 bid by twotime host Innsbruck.

The reasons for Innsbruck’s defeat were difficult to interpret, Parmelin said at a news conference to announce the seven-member council’s decision. Sion was left as Swiss Olympic’s best option for 2026 after voters in the Graubuende­n canton (state) rejected a proposal from St. Moritz and Davos for a second straight time.

“This decision allows us to pursue our work in order to make this candidacy even stronger and to convince the population,” Swiss Olympic president Juerg Stahl said in a statement welcoming the federal support.

Sion’s project could be tested by a referendum in more than one Swiss canton. The Sion hosting plan, centered on its home canton of Valais, also includes proposed events in neighborin­g Vaud — home to the Internatio­nal Olympic Committee in Lausanne — and German-speaking regions. The federal council said it could contribute $842 million toward the organizing budget.

Other possible costs include a contributi­on to the candidacy, renovating venues, and policing expenses. Swiss Olympic said Wednesday it expected organizati­onal spending of almost $2.04 million would be offset by projected revenue of $1.17 million, including a contributi­on from the Internatio­nal Olympic Committee and ticket sales.

The IOC is scheduled to pick the 2026 host in 2019. The process has been revised to help potential bid cities, aiming to ease concerns of European voters who have consistent­ly rejected Olympic bid plans since Russia chose to spend $51 billion on massive infrastruc­ture linked to the 2014 Sochi Games.

 ?? ANTHONY ANEX/KEYSTONE VIA AP ?? Lake Lac Bleu is pictured during a beautiful autumn day, near Arolla, in Valais, Switzerlan­d, this Wednesday.
ANTHONY ANEX/KEYSTONE VIA AP Lake Lac Bleu is pictured during a beautiful autumn day, near Arolla, in Valais, Switzerlan­d, this Wednesday.

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