The Italian government has given its support to a joint bid by Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo for the 2026 Winter Olympics, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach has said.
The two cities, Calgary and Stockholm are the only three definite candidates to host the event with a decision is due in June.
"We are leaving Rome and Italy very confident about this candidature, because we can really see things coming together," Bach told reporters in a news conference at Italian Olympic Committee headquarters.
Bach said he had discussed Italy's bid on Wednesday with Sports Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti, who "expressed the support of the government, which is ready to deliver the guarantees on security".
Argentina's Olympic Committee has said it was considering a late run, but Bach seemed unwilling to consider the possibility.
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The fate of Calgary's bid will be decided by a non-binding plebiscite on November 13, after the Olympic assessment committee recommended the city scrap its plans over a funding row with the Canadian federal government.
Stockholm's candidacy also looks precarious because it does not have the backing of Sweden's main political parties.
