IOC Chief Quiet on Swiss Olympic Bid

(ATR) Ahead of a trip to Finland next week, Thomas Bach will refrain from speaking about St. Moritz’s failed Olympic quest this weekend.

Bach is today visiting the Liechtenstein NOC and will travel to St. Moritz on Saturday to attend some competitions of the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships. Last Sunday, residents of St. Moritz and the Graubündenregion rejected an eastern Switzerland bid for the 2026 Olympics in a referendum.

With the Swiss NOC’s internal selection process still ongoing, Around the Rings is told that during his time in St Moritz Bach will not comment to media on the latest referendum result to oppose an Olympic bid.

Another regional bid for the 2026 Winter Games, based in Sion in western Switzerland, is currently being evaluated by the Swiss NOC. A decision on whether Switzerland enters a Sion bid is expected in early March.

Next week, the IOC chief is heading to Finland.

He is set to meet Finnish president Sauli Niinistö in Helsinki for talks about the country’s sporting movement.

Discussions with NOC and federation leaders are also expected to take place.

Bach is scheduled to attend the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Lahti, an event that opens Feb. 22.

The Centenary World Championships in Lahti is touted as the biggest event during celebrations this year to mark the 100th anniversary of Finland's independence.

More than 700 athletes from 60 different countries will compete in 21 disciplines over 12 days of competition.

Reported by Mark Bisson

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