The traumatic episode of Rome's aborted bid for the Summer Games in 2024 has not extinguished Italy's passion for the Olympic event. The IOC will not complain about it. Two Italian cities, plus one region, are feeling ants in their legs as the date set by the IOC to launch the race for the Winter Games in 2026 is fast approaching. Three files, not one less. Improbable scenario.

The cities, first. Two behemoths, both located in the north of the country: Milan and Turin. The first, capital of Lombardy, has never organized the Games, despite several candidacies. The second hosted the 2006 edition of the Winter Games, the penultimate on European soil. But she seems to want to come back to it.

In Milan, the project is led by the mayor, Giuseppe Sala. On Monday March 19, he met the president of the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI), Giovanni Malago. An interview at the end of which the first Milanese elected official explained: “ I believe that Milan has everything it takes, but we will not move forward without an agreement from the government"

The only problem, but a major one, is that Italy operates today without a constituted government, the last elections having failed to produce a political majority.

Another concern for Milan: the city must host the IOC session in September 2019, during which the IOC members will designate the host city for the Winter Games in 2026. It appears incompatible to host the session and be candidate for the Games.

In Turin, the situation remains confused. Chiara Appendino, the city's mayor, preceded her Milanese college in expressing her interest in the Games on Sunday March 18. She informed CONI of this via an official letter. But several municipal officials from his own party, the 5 Star Movement (M5A), make no secret of their opposition to the project, going so far as to boycott a meeting of the municipal council last week where a possible candidacy was to be discussed.

The region, finally. Veneto has also taken a position, through its president, Luca Zaia. The project could involve Venice, Verona and especially the resort of Cortina d’Ampezzo, host of the Winter Games in 1956. Luca Zaia indicated that his region’s interest would be formalized next week.

Too late ? Not sure. Certainly, the IOC has set March 31 as the deadline for sending a declaration of intent through official channels. But the actual candidacy campaign will begin later. And it is not in the interest of the Olympic organization to discourage applicants.