Austria withdrew its 2026 Winter Olympic bid — centered on Graz, its second-largest city — citing a lack of political backing.
Austria’s Olympic Committee informed the International Olympic Committee on Friday it ended the bid, according to a press release.
Graz’s withdrawal leaves five countries in the running for the 2026 Winter Games, due to be awarded by IOC members vote next year — Canada (Calgary), Italy (Cortina d’Ampezzo/Milan/Torino), Japan (Sapporo), Sweden (Stockholm) and Turkey (Erzurum). One or more of those nations’ bids could hinge on public votes, too.
Switzerland also entered the bid race before the spring deadline, but its Sion bid was rejected by public vote last month.