Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala insisted the city remains part of the joint Italian bid for the 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games but he reiterated his criticism of the project by calling the proposal a "botched solution," according to Liam Morgan of INSIDE THE GAMES. Sala also warned he would "not allow Milan's dignity to be trampled upon" after the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) announced plans to launch a three-city bid, including Milan, Turin and Cortina d'Ampezzo, earlier this month. He revealed a meeting of the mayors of the three cities would be held in September to "sit down and rebuild." The decision from CONI was heavily criticized by Sala, who "immediately claimed his city is not interested in being involved in the governance of a joint bid." In an interview with Italian broadcaster RAI3, Sala maintained that CONI initially gave its support to Milan's bid "before deciding to enter a joint effort at the last minute." Turin Mayor Chiara Appendino also spoke out against the joint plan but "neither city has pulled out of the running" (INSIDE THE GAMES, 8/11).
DISAPPOINTED: The AP reported IOC President Thomas Bach said that he is disappointed the United Nations "will not allow sports equipment to be sent to North Korea." The IOC's request was rejected by the U.N. Security Council Sanctions Committee. Bach said that "this makes it more difficult for the IOC to accomplish its mission to bring athletes from all over the world together to promote understanding and friendship regardless of political background or any other differences" (AP, 8/10).
