Offices of Milan-Cortina organizers searched by Italian financial police

It has been reported that the investigation involves Vincenzo Novari, former chief executive of the Milan-Cortina organizing committee.

Euan Cunningham May 22 2024

The headquarters of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics organizing committee have been raided by the Italian financial police.

The Guardia di Finanza made seizures and inspected computers at the premises of the organizing body, with the Associated Press having reported that the police were checking for information regarding the procedures involved in the awarding of supply contracts for the winter games.

In a statement, prosecutors in Milan said: “The checks underway are aimed at procedures used for the selection of technological providers and sponsors as well as the hiring of employees by the foundation. No current manager or employee of the foundation is under investigation.”

Overall, the raid forms part of an investigation by the public prosecutor’s office of Milan into corruption and bid-rigging. It has been reported that the investigation involves Vincenzo Novari, former chief executive of the Milan-Cortina organizing committee.

Novari left that position in mid-2022, to be replaced by Andrea Varnier. He had initially been appointed in November 2019, having served as chief executive of telecommunications company 3Italia from 2001 to 2016.

The probe is believed to center on the awarding of contracts to run the digital ecosystem and IT infrastructure of Milan-Cortina.

Aside from Novari, Italian media has reported that the probe is investigating another organizing committee executive, as well as a representative of a company based in the mid-Italian town of Orvieto. That firm, called Vetrya at the time, had been awarded a contract to provide digital services for the Winter Olympics.

The Orvieto premises, as well as an office of professional services firm Deloitte, have also been searched by Italian financial police, according to media.

The Winter Olympics will be held between February 6 and 22, while the Paralympics will take place between March 6 and 15.

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