ITALY GETS 2026 WINTER GAMES

Milan and Cortina d’ampezzo are promising an Italian Olympics packed with style and élan after winning the right to stage the 2026 Winter Games on Monday. Milan earned 47 votes from the International Olympic Committee membership, compared to Stockholm’s 34, prompting loud celebrations from the bid team.

“Italy, the future and sport have won,” Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said. “With the Winter Olympics we will confirm our excellence and our skills to the world.”

Milan and Stockholm were the only candidates left after four cities — Swiss city Sion, Japan’s Sapporo, Austria’s Graz and 1988 hosts Calgary — dropped out with concerns over the size and cost of the event. Italy last held the Winter Olympics in 2006 in Turin while Cortina hosted the Winter Games back in 1956.