Tyrol says “No” to 2026 Olympics in Innsbruck

Olympia Innsbruck

Innsbruck (RWH) Voters in Tyrol have rejected Innsbruck’s application to host the Winter Olympic Games in 2026. In a referendum, 53,35 % of voters were against the joint application submitted by the city of Innsbruck and the state of Tyrol.

Alongside Innsbruck, Calgary (Canada), Lillehammer (Norway), Sapporo (Japan), Almaty (Kazakhstan) and Erzurum (Turkey) had also expressed an interest in hosting the games. The application of Sion (Switzerland) depends on the support of the Swiss Government. The games will be awarded at the General Assembly of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in summer 2019.

Innsbruck previously hosted the Winter Olympics in 1964 and 1976. The state capital of Tyrol also staged the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in 2012.