Turin has dropped out Italy's bid for the 2026 Winter Olympics, leaving Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo as the country's host cities for the event, confirmed the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI).

The three-city bidding plan was "dead," quoting Giancarlo Giorgetti, sub-secretary of state for the sport of Italy, on Tuesday. He announced that the government would not support the plan. Since the plan was raised, it never escaped political obstacle because Turin refused to acknowledge Milan's position as the leading city of the bid.

"I think that with an important thing like an Olympic bid, a spirit of an agreement must prevail and I have not found that in the three cities," said Giorgetti. Later on Tuesday, it was confirmed that Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo submit a joint bid to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for candidates.

Leaders of Lombardy, where Milan is, and Veneto, where Cortina d'Ampezzo is, on Wednesday released a statement in which they said: The bid for the 2026 Winter Olympics must continue. The two sides hope to work together despite the disappointing dropping out of Turin.

Though Turin hosted the 2006 Winter Olympics by itself, struggling local economy played a part in forcing the city to quit the joint bid. According to Tencent Sports, protesters took to the street around the Olympic village in the city in early September to oppose the government's participation in bidding for the Winter Olympics again in 20 years. They believe the government should focus on economic recovery instead of adding another heavy burden.  

Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo will compete with Turkey's Erzurum, Sweden's Stockholm and Canada's Calgary before the IOC announces the final winner in 2019.

(Top picture: The headquarters of the International Olympic Committee /VCG Photo)