A press conference in the Veneto Region today kicked off the official visit of the CIO Evaluation Commission for the candidacy of Milan Cortina in connection with the 2026 Winter Olympics and Special Olympics.

The international delegation was welcomed by the Undersecretary to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers with delegation to sport, Giancarlo Giorgetti, CONI president, Giovanni Malagò, Secretary General Carlo Mornati, the governor of Veneto, Luca Zaia and by the mayor of Cortina, Giampietro Ghedina.

The committee is led by CIO member Octavian Morariu and comprised of Kristin Kloster Aasen, Hong Zhang (CIO members), and representatives of the Roman Kumpost Olympic Movement (Czech Republic, ANOC member and Vice President of the Czech Olympic Committee), Heike Groesswang (Germany, AIOWF member and Secretary General of the International Federation of Bob and Skeleton), Marianna Davis (USA, IPC Board member), Lee Hee-Beom (South Korea, President of the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics Organizing Committee) and Josè Luis Marco (Argentina, Beijing 2022 and Vancouver 2010 Coordinating Committee, member of the London 2012, Salt Lake City 2002, Vancouver 2010 and Sochi 2014 Assessment Committees).

Also present was CIO Olympic Games Executive Director, Christophe Dubi, the Associate Director for Olympic candidacies, Jacqueline Barrett and International Olympic Committee consultants, Tim Gayda (Canada), Grant Thomas and Steve Wilson (USA), along with other CIO administrative officials.

Today Milano and Cortina have launched bid's claim: "Dreaming together", that appear in Venice's Airport.

The visit will continue tomorrow from Cortina, with the first stop at Tofane, the location identified for women’s Alpine Skiing and the team event. Then it will move on to the sliding centre, the curling facility and the area that will host one of the 3 Olympic Villages. The day will continue with the trip to Anterselva, the venue chosen to host the biathlon competitions, and then on to Baselga di Pinè, in the Fiemme Valley, Tesero and Predazzo for a site visit of the facilities which will host speed skating, cross-country skiing and ski jumping.