2026 Olympics: Turin can rethink-Malago

(ANSA) - Rome, September 19 - Giovanni Malagò, the head of Italian Olympic Committee CONI, said Wednesday that Turin can reconsider whether to be part of an Italian bid to land the 2026 Winter Olympics.
    On Tuesday Cabinet Secretary Giancarlo Giorgetti said the idea of staging a combined Milan-Turin-Cortina d'Ampezzo bid for the games was "dead" due to differences between the cities.
    This prompted Veneto Governor Luca Zaia and Lombardy Governor Attilio Fontana to propose staging a two-way bid led by Milan and Cortina, without Turin. Giorgetti said that he had nothing against this, but stressed that, unlike in the case of a three-way bid, central government would not provide financial guarantees.
    "It's certain that Italy has less chance of winning (with a two-way bid) without the government guarantees," Malagò told RAI radio.
    "We are still in time," he added when asked about Turin reconsidering its position.
    Turin Mayor Chiara Appendino, however, suggested this was not on the cards. "It is fundamental to have the utmost clarity about who is financing the event and how," Appendino told ANSA.
    "If you want to take forward the idea of hosting the Olympics without State funds, but with the support of the regions and the private sector, you must first clarify who is putting in how much.
    "I don't make blind commitments.
    "Turin is not running because the proposal is not completely clear".