The 46-year-old addressed stakeholders of the Games at a meeting at the Casino del Bel Respiro inside the Villa Pamphili in Rome.

"The Olympics and Paralympics are a great opportunity to show the world who we are once again," Meloni said.

"The Games are a way to turn the world's spotlight on Italy.

"And I don't have to remember what this means for our economic system, for our production chains, for the excellence of our products and our industrial system."

Various Governmental figures were present at the event including Sports Minister Andrea Abodi as well as other members of the Milan Cortina 2026 leadership. 

The Games' Organising Committee President Giovanni Malagò, vice-president Luca Pancalli and chief executive Andrea Varnier also travelled to the capital.

They re-enforced the belief that Milan Cortina 2026 will be beneficial for Italy's economy, and "will leave a tangible legacy for the country and, above all, for future generations."

"My personal and heartfelt thanks to Prime Minister Meloni and the Italian Government for the support they have always shown towards what will be in effect the most important event that our country will host in the coming years," said Malagò, who is also President of the Italian National Olympic Committee and an International Olympic Committee member.

"Sport has always been an excellence of our country capable of recalling in everyone the deepest sense of pride and national unity. 

"At the same time it is also a powerful vehicle of inclusion that will allow us to embrace and welcome fans, media, representatives of International Federations from all over the world."

The Organising Committee claims that Milan Cortina 2026, which is spanning the regions of Lombardy and Veneto, will be "everyone's Games" as a global audience of more than three billion is expected.

The Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Games are due to run from February 6 to 22 2026, before the Paralympics are scheduled to follow from March 6 to 15.