More drama from Italy

More confusion from Italy on its bid for the 2026 Games, according to the GamesBids.com site. It quoted Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala as saying Thursday that he had been assured that the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) would “focus” on Milan as the center of its 2026 bid.

“Then, twenty-four hours before the choice [CONI President Giovanni Malago] explained to me that it was not possible to go on like this for political reasons.”

Instead, CONI announced a unique joint, three-city spread among Cortina d’Ampezzo, Milan and Turin without a traditional, single, host city.

“I think [the joint bid] is a botched solution,” said Sala. “I asked for a meeting immediately and I was told that we will see each other in September, so let’s wait. Together with the other mayors we’ll sit down and rebuild.”

Turin Mayor Chiara Appendino has voiced similar misgivings about the joint approach, saying that Turin ““will not be a crutch to other cities.”

In the meantime, the IOC is expected to extend formal invitations to actual bid cities during its Buenos Aires Session on 3-4 October. Tick, tock …