The Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) confirmed the decision to launch the split-in-three candidature for the 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, with Milan, Turin and Cortina d’Ampezzo to be the host cities.

The joint-bid proposal was unanimously approved by the Executive Board, following its meeting on 1 August 2018. The project will now have to be sift through the government and the IOC, which will be in Italy from 6 to 10 August to analyse the dossier.

“It is an innovative project”, stated CONI President Giovanni Malagò. “Our intention is to guarantee a balance between the respective territorial areas through the reinforcement of cohesion and respect between the areas identified to host the Games, as well as to find solutions that provide the best chance for success of the candidacies for all of Italy”, also added.

Milan would host sports including curling, ice hockey, short track speed skating and figure skating. Speed skating and other ice hockey games would take place in Turin – which already hosted the 2006 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games – with slalom Alpine skiing in nearby Sestriere. Whereas, sliding sports would be held alongside all other Alpine skiing events in Cortina – which staged the 1956 Winter Olympic Games – with Nordic combined and ski jumping in nearby in Val di Fiemme.

CONI claimed there will be no new venues required and hopes that the total cost will be €376.5 million (£334.88 million/$439.23 million).

Athletes’ Villages would be located in both Milan and Turin, with all athletes competing elsewhere housed in hotels.

Rival candidate Calgary in Canada is likely to face a challenging referendum towards the end of this year.

The IOC are due to vote on their official candidates for the 2026 race at their Session in Buenos Aires next October.