2026 Olympic Host Vote (24 June 2019): And then there were two....

[allezfred]

A look at the 2026 Winter Olympic bids in Monday's vote

While the Winter Olympics still has issues attracting bidders, two candidates have stayed on Monday's ballot to pick the 2026 host. The contest is formally a choice between Milan-Cortina and Stockholm-Are. Effectively it is northern Italy against Sweden and Latvia as the costs and duties of...

news.yahoo.com

The contest is formally a choice between Milan-Cortina and Stockholm-Are. Effectively it is northern Italy against Sweden and Latvia as the costs and duties of Olympic hosting shift from cities to regions and multiple nations.

The International Olympic Committee hopes — and arguably needs — the 2026 Winter Games to ease concerns of taxpayers worldwide that hosting a two-week sports festival would be a too-expensive luxury.

At least we'll be watching in a Euro friendly timezone either way!

 

[Colonel Green]

Ah, northern Italy, so many Olympic memories.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

I like both choices!!!

Very nice.

 

[Vagabond]

At least we'll be watching in a Euro friendly timezone either way!

 

[allezfred]

Stockholm presentation now starting on the Olympic Channel.

 

[rfisher]

Better for the US than Asia. The China, Korea, Japan (winter and summer events) years have been murder. Except NBC reschedules skating for prime time and that makes everybody else Europe works for me.

 

[allezfred]

Thoughts on Stockholm presentation:

Pros - Stable, dependable, sensible
Cons - The Mayor of Stockholm sang “Dancing Queen” badly.

 

[Colonel Green]

Cons - The Mayor of Stockholm sang “Dancing Queen” badly.

So you’re saying it will be in regular use as skating music?

 

[allezfred]

So you’re saying it will be in regular use as skating music?

I am saying people who can’t sing shouldn’t sing.

 

[Orm Irian]

I am saying people who can’t sing shouldn’t sing.

And, a propos of the song in question, Prime Ministers who can't dance shouldn't dance

 

[allezfred]

Milano presentation just ended.

Pros - Enthusiasm
Cons - All a bit vague

 

[Yazmeen]

Go, Stockholm! Nothing against Italy, but they had it in 2006. Plus "all a bit vague" raises red flags for me.

 

[Sylvia]

Sweden's presentation: https://www.olympicchannel.com/en/v...inal-presentation-stockholm-are-sweden-x4672/

Italy's presentation: https://www.olympicchannel.com/en/v...-city-final-presentation-milan-cortina-italy/

Live announcement will be streamed here in 45 mins (ETA the video replay): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1-vhP6Z8-E

 

[Debbie S]

It's Milan!

Damn, I want to go. But I have also been fantasizing about going to Beijing.

 

[allezfred]

Looks like the Stockholm mayor shouldn’t have sung “Dancing Queen”

 

[gatorinfl]

It's Milan!

Damn, I want to go. But I have also been fantasizing about going to Beijing.

I was hoping for Stockholm but Milan is OK.

I did not see Stockholm’s presentation this morning but did see Milan’s and it was impressive.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

WOW, REALLY?

I can't wait to see what kind of singles and teams Italy will produce by then!!!!!!

Mi piace molto!!!!!!

 

[Deleted member 53443]

Looks like the Stockholm mayor shouldn’t have sung “Dancing Queen”

Dear God was that a cringe moment. Remember Obama singing Al Green. Now that's freaking class. This was just embarrassing. As a Swede, I heartily congratulate the best choice, Milan.

 

[clairecloutier]

Is the figure skating venue for the Milan Olympics the same one that hosted Milan Worlds a couple years ago??

 

[Sylvia]

Is the figure skating venue for the Milan Olympics the same one that hosted Milan Worlds a couple years ago??

Yes: https://twitter.com/europeonice/status/1143193692188135425

 

[allezfred]

Is the figure skating venue for the Milan Olympics the same one that hosted Milan Worlds a couple years ago??

Yes, but it is going to get a (much-needed) renovation.

 

[Colonel Green]

An opportunity to redeem how bad the men’s and ladies’ events in 2006 were!

 

[Rob]

As long as it has more bathrooms than Palavela, I'm good.

 

[cygnus]

Yes, but it is going to get a (much-needed) renovation.

Including the toilet situation, I hope. The arena had 8 (yes 8!) women's toilets for the whole main arena area (Not all of which worked at any given time).

 

[cygnus]

As long as it has more bathrooms than Palavela, I'm good.

It didn't-see above post.

 

[BittyBug]

As long as it has more bathrooms than Palavela, I'm good.

And seat backs. Please let there be actual seats and not benches.

 

[DobrinFan]

And seat backs. Please let there be actual seats and not benches.

Yes, there are actual seats.

 

[Frau Muller]

VIVA, ITALIA!!!!

 

[Frau Muller]

WOW, REALLY?

I can't wait to see what kind of singles and teams Italy will produce by then!!!!!!

Mi piace molto!!!!!!

Babs F-P must be going nuts! Remember how excited she gets when one of her teams gets scores in, say, 23rd place in some Jr GP event.

 

[aftershocks]

Just as China is pushing hard to make headway in the Olympic team event in Beijing, Italy will surely be trying to shore up to make more of a concerted challenge in the team event by 2026. But they surely will have to be finding more talent in pairs and ice dance (maybe there are some Italian teams coming up in both these disciplines since G/F and Della-M/Guarise surely will both be retired by 2026).

I'm not sure Ghilardi/Ambrosini in senior pairs, are talented enough to rise to stronger competitiveness to take over for D-M/G. In junior pairs for Italy there's V Contarino/ M Pauletti, who placed 13th at 2019 junior Worlds. I'm not familiar with these teams and I don't know if they are still together. In ice dance, after G/F, there's J Tessari/F Fioretti, who placed 24th at 2019 Worlds and did not make the fp cut. It remains to be seen how well they will fare over the next 7 years. In junior ice dance, at the moment there's F Righi/ A Dubrovin.

In senior ladies, I like what I saw from Marina Piredda at this year's WTT (she placed 27th at Worlds in the sp and did not make the cut, but she seems to have good competitive potential). Roberta Rodeghiero was 31st at Worlds, an okay skater but not exactly Carolina Kostner. In men's singles, Matteo Rizzo and Daniel Grassl should both still be around in 6 to 7 years. These guys are brilliant and should be Italy's mainstay leading up to 2026, if all continues to proceed well for them in their careers.