Thomas Bach takes a liking to Italy. We can understand it. The IOC President made his second trip to Rome in just two weeks on Thursday September 29. The first, an invitation from the National Olympic Committee (CONI) to be decorated with a medal, was planned in advance. The second was much less so.
Just four days after the legislative elections which tilted Italy into the far-right camp, Thomas Bach took the road to Rome to meet Giorgia Meloni, expected to become the country's first female Prime Minister. A photo immortalized the scene (above). An IOC press release made the nature of the exchanges official.
The interview lasted an hour. Thomas Bach was accompanied by Giovanni Malago (left in the photo), the president of CONI and the organizing committee of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Games.
Four days, then. Thomas Bach's eagerness for this express round trip between Lausanne and Rome may be surprising. Giorgia Meloni is not yet officially Prime Minister, even if the victory of his coalition in the legislative elections ensures him a solid majority in the House and the Senate. The IOC president could have waited.
But Thomas Bach knows it and no longer hides it: the preparation for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Games is already taking on, with less than four years to go, the appearance of a speed race. An obstacle course where the slightest prolonged slowdown can turn into disaster.
The IOC explains this in a press release: “ le The most important item on the agenda for this interview was the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics“. Four days after the victory of the coalition of right-wing parties, it seems doubtful whether the Olympic file is at the top of Giorgia Meloni's list of priorities. The Italian leader would however have assured Thomas Bach that these Games are “ extremely important to us. Italy is more than capable of organizing a magnificent Games and we are keen to impress the world again. You can count on us. " Cool.
In exchange, Thomas Bach thanked the Italian leader of “ unfailing support that she has provided to sport and the Olympic movement for many years. " Ah good. He continued: “ We are committed to cooperating closely and confidently to make the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 a resounding success for Italy and the entire Olympic movement."
With less than four years to go, Milan-Cortina 2026 will not only need the help of Thomas Bach and the IOC to avoid going off the road. Above all, the organizers must be able to count on unwavering and lasting support from the Italian government. In a country where completing a government mandate is often a miracle, the challenge promises to be significant.
Since the passing of the Olympic flag last February in Beijing, Milan-Cortina has only attracted three private partners, Esselunga, Randstad and Deloitte Italia. Delays are accumulating in the construction of sites. For at least one of them, the speed skating oval, it has still not been decided where it would be located.
Another gray area: the appointment of a new general director to the organizing committee. The departure of Vincenzo Novari has been known for several weeks, but the name of his replacement has still not been decided. It was agreed that it would be wiser to wait until the legislative elections were held to make the final choice, the new DG having to be dubbed by the political authorities.
The electoral deadline has now passed, and time is running out. Giovanni Malago admitted this on Thursday, after the interview with Gorgia Meloni: “ The absence of a general manager becomes an urgent problem to be resolved"
