(ATR) International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach formally welcomed the bid delegations from Sweden and Italy on the eve of the IOC election for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games host city.
Short bilateral meetings with both delegations were held at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne on a balmy Sunday evening in the Olympic capital.
Joining Bach among the IOC contingent were the four vice-presidents – Juan Antonio Samaranch, Uğur Erdener, Anita Defrantz and Zaiqing Yu.
Also attending the bilateral meetings were Octavian Morariu, IOC Member and Chair of IOC Evaluation Commission 2026;Christophe De Kepper, IOC Director General;Christophe Dubi, Olympic Games Executive Director;Mark Adams, Spokesman, Services Director; andJacqueline Barrett, Associate Director, Olympic Candidatures.
Stockholm-Are 2026
Leading the Swedish contingent were HRH Crown Princess Victoria, Crown Prince Daniel and prime minister Stefan Löfven. Swedish IOC members Gunilla Lindberg and Stefan Holm accompanied the delegation.
Löfven briefly addressed Swedish and international media, once again emphasizing that the government now supports the candidature, following the meeting with Bach and IOC officials.
Sweden stands ready now to host the Winter Games in 2026," Löfven said, amid a swarm of media just outside the Olympic Museum doors. "The Swedish government stands fully behind this candidacy and we are looking forward to delivering on the New Norm."
Lindberg was the IOC evaluation commission chair for the 2018 Winter Games and has been associated with some 25 Olympic Games, but never involving her home country. She said a Swedish victory on Monday would "mean everything".
"After having been involved for so many years, you really, really want to do it in your home country," Lindberg said. "I think we gained some experience from other Games, and for Sweden, my country and the Olympic movement."
Swedish NOC president Mats Arjes spoke about the delegations consisting of 107 Swedes from all facets of the public and private sectors.
"We are the most successful winter sports country in the world that has never hosted the Winter Games," Arjes said.
"There might have been some concerns about the support in the beginning in the bid, but I think we have more than strong support from all different parts of our society, so we our really proud of our bid and we are looking forward to presentations tomorrow.
Milan-Cortina 2026
Milan-Cortina 2026 president and IOC member Giovanni Malago addressed the media expressing bravado and confidence. He delicately fielded a question from Around the Rings about what can be done over these final 21 hours to bring home an Italian triumph.
"I can’t make some mistake, but there are a lot of things to do – we will talk with the colleagues because these days we have a good human relationship with my colleagues," he said referring to the IOC members who will vote on Monday afternoon at Lausanne’s Swiss Tech Convention Center.
"And during my talks in this period. I have realized that our bid is of high quality.
"My feeling is positive, we know that there will be a competition, but I stay positive, feel good and respect our opponent.
At the end, I can add without Agenda 2020, our bid would not be possible."
IOC president Thomas Bach is scheduled to make an important announcement on Monday morning, prior to the technical presentations by both bids.
The IOC membership, an estimated 80-some members, as those from Italy and Sweden are ineligible, will vote at about 4pm local time. Bach is expected to announce the 2026 Winter Games winner about two hours later.
Written and reported by Brian Pinelli in Lausanne
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