Winter Games now headed for Italy

The success of the Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo bid for the 2026 Winter Olympics means Italy became the first country to win two Games bids within a 20-year span, following its successful effort with Turin 2006.

The decision on the location for the 2026 Games was made at an International Olympic Committee, or IOC, meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland on June 24, 2019.

There were only two candidates remaining in the vote when four other bidders withdrew after the candidature stage, due to lack of funding or public support.

The IOC voted 47 to 34 in favor of Italy's Milan–Cortina d'Ampezzo over Stockholm-Are, Sweden.

Cortina first hosted the Winter Olympics in 1956 and it was the first such event to be televised to a multi-national audience, generating plenty of international interest in the municipality and helping to raise Cortina's profile as a key alpine destination.

Today, the local economy thrives on tourism, and during the winter season the population of the town can increase from 6,000 to 40,000.

Because of the 1956 Winter Olympics in Cortina, Luigi Alvera, the city's vice mayor, said local people understand the opportunities it can bring and know it makes sense to invest in the Games because they are already part of the economic fabric.

"The winning bid is a very good chance for Cortina," Alvera said. "Cortina is not going to host all the competitions, but just some part of it, which is in line with the size of the place, with its right characteristics, and the town will not be overwhelmed by the event."

Olympic Games usually usher in a great amount of investment to the host city, and such effect has already been seen in Cortina since the 2026 decision was announced.