IOC Releases Evaluation Commission 2026 Report
One month ahead of the host city election, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) released the report by the Evaluation Commission 2026 last week. It provides a thorough assessment of the two candidates, Stockholm-Åre and Milan-Cortina, following the working visits on 12-16 March and 2-6 April respectively, and analyses of the candidature files and additional documentation submitted. It will serve as a guide for the IOC Members before they vote on 24th June at the 134th IOC Session in Lausanne.
The Chair of the Evaluation Commission, Octavian Morariu, said: “Both projects prioritise legacy and sustainability by capitalising on winter sports tradition and experience, with first-rate, established World Cup venues, knowledgeable and passionate fans, volunteers and event organisers. They have fully embedded the Olympic Agenda 2020 philosophy and have athletes at the centre of their plans.”
He added: “The two candidates have aligned their concepts with their context and local long-term goals. All of this led to massive cost savings and a more sustainable hosting model that is the new reality for the Games.”
The Candidate Cities 2026 plan to use on average over 80 per cent existing or temporary venues, compared to 60 per cent for the 2018 and 2022 Candidates. As a consequence, their proposed Games operating budgets are on average 20 per cent lower than those of the Candidate Cities for the Olympic Winter Games 2018 and 2022
On 24th June, the IOC membership will have the opportunity to hear from the Commission and the Candidate Cities, which will include detailed question-and-answer sessions during a technical briefing in the morning at which the seven International Winter Sports Federations will also be involved with FIS represented by President Gian Franco Kasper and Secretary General Sarah Lewis. In the afternoon, the Candidate Cities will make a final presentation during the 134th IOC Session, before the vote and the host city announcement.
