The IOC Executive Board (EB) today named Dolomiti Valtellina, a project led by CONI and its regional partners in Lombardy, Trentino and Veneto, as the Preferred Host for the next edition of the Winter YOG. The project would build on the legacies of the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.

Karl Stoss, Chair of the Future Host Commission for the Olympic Winter Games and IOC Member in Austria, said: “The vision for Dolomiti Valtellina 2028 is to pass the baton to, and empower, a new generation of athletes and leaders.

“The masterplan is based 100 per cent on existing venues in three clusters, in Valtellina, Val di Fiemme and Cortina. Out of ten competition venues, six will have been used by Milano Cortina.

“Hosting the YOG 2028 would help to amplify the vision, the socio-economic impacts and the sports legacy of Milano Cortina 2026, while further positioning northern Italy as a destination for international winter sports events.”

The YOG would be fully aligned with local priorities in the three regions, and there is strong regional and national political support.

The Future Host Commission will analyse all strategic and technical elements of the project and report back to the EB later this year. If all the requirements for hosting the Youth Olympic Games are met, Dolomiti Valtellina 2028 could then be put forward for election by a future IOC Session.

(OIS photo)