Giorgia Meloni claims to lead the next Italian government. There is still no coalition and it is not in office either. No obstacle for IOC President Bach to meet with her. She assures full support in preparing for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.
After the election victory in Italy, IOC President Thomas Bach met with party leader Giorgia Meloni from the ultra-right Fratelli d’Italia in Rome. Meloni, who has laid claim to forming the next government, offered her support for the successful organization of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
“These Winter Games are very important for us. Italy is more than capable of organizing great games. We want to amaze the world again. You can count on us,” Meloni told Bach. Bach was accompanied by the President of the National Olympic Committee, Giovanni Malago. IOC member Malago is also President of the Organizing Committee for Milan-Cortina 2026.
Bach thanked Meloni “for her strong commitment to sport and the Olympic movement, which she has shown throughout her political career for many years”. Bach said they were committed to a “very close and trusting cooperation to make the 2026 Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina a success for Italy and the entire Olympic movement”.
The right-wing coalition led by the FDI secured an absolute majority in both houses of parliament in the election. The FDI received the largest share of the vote with 26 percent. Meloni therefore has good prospects of becoming prime minister. Bach is invited to the Vatican on Friday, where he is to speak at an event about the role of sport in social cohesion.
