Milan Cortina 2026 sign Memorandum of Understanding with employers' federation

Organisers of the 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games have signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with two regional branches of the Confindustria, the Italian employers' federation and national chamber of commerce.

Milan Cortina 2026 said the agreements with Confindustria Lombardia and Veneto, which represent Northern Italian regions that are set to host events during the Winter Olympics and Paralympics, will help ensure the "efficient and effective success" of the Games.

The MoU is designed to reaffirm the links between the Organising Committee and the business community in the area where the Games are scheduled to be held.

It is hoped it will pave the way for companies in the regions to become partners of Milan Cortina 2026.

Organising Committee head Giovanni Malagò, also the President of the Italian National Olympic Committee and a member of the International Olympic Committee, welcomed the agreements with the two branches.

"I have always maintained the synergy between the territories was one of the winning keys of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games," Malagò said.

"These Memorandum of Understanding with the two Confindustrie of Lombardy and Veneto represent a confirmation of how much the business world is at the side of this great innovative and sustainable project that can relaunch the image of Italy in the world."

Milan Cortina 2026 President Giovanni Malagò welcomed the Memoranda of Understanding with the regional branches ©Getty Images

Confindustria is also known as the General Confederation of Italian Industry and lists more than 150,000 companies as members.

The companies which are part of the Confindustria employ around 5.4 million people.

"The agreements that we have announced show the Milan Cortina Games cannot wait until 2026 and must begin immediately," said Milan Cortina 2026 chief executive Vincenzo Novari.

"Our challenge is to organise a major global sporting event by enhancing excellence local in a framework of economic, environmental and social sustainability, and without weighing on the pockets of citizens.

"An unmissable opportunity for development for the Olympic territories and a showcase for the whole country - we will demonstrate that in addition to creativity and genius, we are capable of fielding a solid culture of innovation and an impeccable organisation.

"The two protocols are not just an invitation to companies in Lombardy and Veneto to become protagonists of the Games as partners.

"They represent good practice to be replicated."