2026 Bids Present Their Case in Tokyo

(ATR) Milan/Cortina and Stockholm unveil logos for their 2026 Olympic bids during earnest presentations to the ANOC General Assembly in Tokyo.

The Milan/Cortina emblem uses the colors of the Italian flag – green, white and red. The outline of the iconic Milan Cathedral frames the carvings on an alpine ski course.

Stockholm’s logo is based on the traditional Kurbits culture of painted folk art. Mirror image 2s, with the first looking like an S, surround a heart shape and stand atop an 0 and a 6.

"The colors are snow blue, ice blue, the yellow of the sun and the orange of passion and hearts from the center of Sweden from the winter wonderland," Richard Brisius, the bid CEO, tells Around the Rings in an exclusive. "And then you have the north arrow in the middle. I’ve never explained this to anyone before, but I’m very proud of it."

Appearing before more than 1,300 delegates from 206 countries, the candidate cities made the first of only two international presentations allowed by the IOC. The other will be in April at the Association of International Winter Federations at the SportAccord Convention in Australia. The IOC will vote on the 2026 host city on June 24 in Lausanne.

Each bid was allotted 20 minutes, with the Italians taking all 20 and the Swedes using only 16 while giving a more detailed look at where specific events would be held.

Milan/Cortina went first, emphasizing the legacy of hosting the Games 70 years after Italy welcomed the world for the first time at the 1956 Cortina Olympics. Bid officials also cited the experience of hosting the upcoming 2021 World Alpine Championships – and the 242 million euros ($272.9 million) already dedicated to making that event a success.

"We believe that the winning key of our project is the word 'Together,'" said Giovanni Malago, president of the Italian National Olympic committee. "Together, because we unite public and private, tradition and innovation, the efficiency of a great metropolis with the charm of the mountains. It is a great display of teamwork with a single goal: to bring the Olympic and Paralympic Games back to Italy."

Guiseppe Sala, mayor of Milan, said the recent experience of Expo Milano 2015 taught the city "how to bring to completion a big event of such a magnitude" with 21 million visitors. He said his city is internationally recognized for style, elegance and world-class service and that a poll commissioned by the IOC showed 83 percent of the citizens were in favor of hosting the Games.

"The youngsters that will participate in the preparation and implementation of the 2026 Games," Sala said, "will have the opportunity to grow conscious that sport, sustainability and social inclusion are values on which a better society can be built."

Arianna Fontana, the eight-time Olympic short track speedskating medalist from Italy who won gold in PyeongChang, spoke for the athletes in support of the bid. She said that her home region of Valtellina would also play an important role in the bid, though she said "I can’t unveil the master plan just yet."

Luca Zaia, president of Region Veneto, repeated Malago’s refrain that the Milan/Cortina bid is based on Agenda 2020 and the "new norm". Zaia said the plan would include "projects on a human scale, no monumental works, no concrete flow, no money and energy waste, no white elephants which will not be used after the Games end".

He told ATR, "We have a good candidature with two famous localities, Milano and Cortina, the queen of the Dolomites."

With many rival 2026 bids already derailed by a lack of support among citizens or their governments, Malago stressed that the Italian NOC is fully committed with its efforts and energy, "as is the Italian Government which will guarantee support for the candidacy for the services that depend on it."

That has become a sticking point for Stockholm, which must convince the city council to back the bid.

Brisius told ATR that he is confident his candidature will live on. "The reality of life is that you always have problems and then you solve one and then you solve another one," he said. "So it’s opportunities. That’s how we see them. What’s really good back home is that we feel a growing support. And we will get there."

Governor Joran Hagglund, whose county includes partner city Are, was in Tokyo supporting the bid.

Gunilla Lindberg, secretary general of the Swedish Olympic Committee, opened the presentation, noting that it was her third time addressing the general assembly on Wednesday. She is also the secretary general of ANOC.

"Our plan is similar to our Swedish values," she said. "It is sensible, responsible and most importantly, sustainable. We will also provide an incredible true Winter Games experience for the athletes, NOCS, IFs, and the entire Olympic Movement."

Lindberg, who chaired the coordination commission for PyeongChang, said the Stockholm bid also follows Agenda 2020 and the "new norm". Lindberg said the IOC "needs a partner that can deliver on time, on budget and with no surprises," and that partner is Stockholm 2026.

The newly elected president of the NOC, Mats Arjes, told the ANOC delegates that the Games in Sweden would offer "something bold, something new and I can personally promise you something fun". He is also the CEO of the leading ski resort in Scandinavia.

Kim Martin Hasson, a two-time Olympic medalist in women’s hockey, said Sweden has two secret ingredients – "a lot of winter sports fans and a lot of snow".

She said there are 20,000 sports clubs in Sweden, more than any other country, and half of the population from ages seven to 70 belongs to a club.

While Stockholm has top billing in the bid, three other cities will also have significant roles: Falun (ski jumping and Nordic combined), Are (alpine) and Sigulda, Latvia (sliding events).

Big Air and Aerials will be held inside the Olympic Stadium, which hosted the 1912 Olympic Games and the equestrian events for the 1956 Summer Games, tying the past to the present.

"Leading up to 1912, the Olympic Games were struggling and Stockholm stepped up," Brisius said, noting that they were called "the Sunshine Games" because of the tremendous weather and the optimism restored to the Olympic Movement.

"A lot has changed since 1912," he said, "but the one thing that hasn’t changed is the warmth of the Swedish people."

Written and reported by Karen Rosen in Tokyo

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