Calgary, Stockholm, Cortina/Milan nominated for 2026 Winter Olympics candidature

Calgary, Stockholm and a joint Italian bid involving Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo have been proposed to proceed to the next bidding stage for the 2026 Winter Olympics while Turkey's Erzurum was dropped, the International Olympic Committee said on Thursday.

IOC President Thomas Bach said that the IOC executive board took the decision on the recommendation from the 2026 Olympic Winter Games Working Group earlier on Thursday and that the three bids would be considered at the IOC Session here next Monday and Tuesday (Oct. 8 and 9).

They are all expected to be given the green light to continue to the next stage, including the submission of the Candidature Files by Jan. 11 next year.

IOC vice president Juan Antonio Samaranch, who chairs the 2026 Winter Olympic Games Working Group, said Erzurum's bid fell short in areas including transport, telecommunications and airports.

"Erzurum's concept was challenging in the technical aspects," Samaranch told a press conference.

Samaranch also praised the three cities that made it to the next phase, saying they had what it took to host "a wonderful" event.

A host city is due to be chosen by the IOC at its session in 2019.