Italian Sports Leaders Signal Intent for Rome Summer Olympics Bid After Milan-Cortina Winter Triumph

Following the successful 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Games, Italian officials are evaluating a Summer Olympics bid for Rome for either 2036 or 2040.

By: AXL Media

Published: Feb 27, 2026, 3:30 AM EST

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Politico.

Renewed Ambition Following Winter Games Success

The Italian sporting world is riding a wave of momentum following the acclaimed delivery of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. As the closing ceremonies in Verona concluded this week, top officials, including Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) President Luciano Buonfiglio, expressed a firm belief that the country is ready to return to the Summer Olympic stage. The success of the Winter Games, which were praised by IOC leadership for setting a new standard in organizational excellence, has revitalized an Olympic dream that had been dormant for a decade following several high-profile bid withdrawals.

Buonfiglio emphasized that while the country deserves another Summer Games, any official move must be a step-by-step process conducted in total alignment with the national government. The current sentiment marks a sharp departure from 2016, when a previous bid for the 2024 Games was famously vetoed due to financial concerns. This time, the narrative is built on the foundation of proven success and the human legacy of thousands of trained volunteers and organizers left behind by the Milan-Cortina experience.

Rome as the Strategic Centerpiece

Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri has emerged as a key proponent of the potential bid, stating that the capital city possesses the "objective conditions" required to host an event of this magnitude. Gualtieri pointed to the city's recent performance during the 2025 Holy Year, which saw tens of millions of pilgrims and tourists move through the city with high efficiency, as concrete proof of Rome’s modern organizational capacity. The Mayor has expressed a readiness to collaborate with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and CONI to build what he describes as the "most competitive bid possible."

The proposed plan focuses heavily on sustainability by utilizing existing iconic infrastructure. Central to this strategy is the 70,000-seat Stadio Olimpico and the surrounding Foro Italico complex, which could host athletics and swimming without the need for massive new construction projects. By leveraging these historic venues, Rome aims to present a fiscally responsible model that aligns with the IOC’s "New Norm" standards, which prioritize the use of existing facilities to avoid the "white elephant" stadiums that plagued previous Olympic hosts.