Lausanne, June 24 -- Italian officials insisted their debt-hit economy can support hosting the 2026 Olympics, and Sweden's prime minister promised his apparently skeptical nation also wants to do it.

The two Winter Games candidates brought government officials to help persuade International Olympic Committee members on Monday hours before they elect a winner.

Milan-Cortina and Stockholm-Are would likely have failed to come this far in previous Olympic bidding contests run under stricter rules demanding financial guarantees and government support earlier in the process.

Though Milan-Cortina has long been favored to win, bid leaders met with around 80 IOC voters on Monday amid increasing European Union scrutiny this month of Italy's nati...