Patrick Baumgartner and Mattia Variola are among members of the Italian bobsleigh team ©Getty Images

Six bobsledders and two skeleton athletes have been selected for the Italian "A" squad for the 2017-2018 campaign.

It is likely that these athletes will form the Italian team for the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, which falls within the season.

Mattia Variola and 2012 Winter Youth Olympic Games champion Patrick Baumgatner will be joined by fellow bobsledders Francesco Costa, Simone Fontana, Giovanni Mulassano and Costantino Ughi.

A notable omission is pilot Simon Bertazzo, the 2007 World Championship bronze medallist who placed 27th in last year's World Cup standings.

The 2008 European bronze medallist still has a chance to qualify for the "A" squad during scheduled performance tests in July and September.

Simon Bertazzo, pictured piloting the Italian team at the Turin 2006 Olympics, has missed out on the
Simon Bertazzo, pictured piloting the Italian team at the Turin 2006 Olympics, has missed out on the "A" squad ©Getty Images

Joseph Luke Cecchini and Mattia Gaspari are selected as the two skeleton team members.

Gaspari finished 16th in last year's World Cup standings.

No women have yet been selected for either squad.

Italy have won four bobsleigh and one skeleton Olympic titles.

The most recent was a two-man success for Günther Huber and Antonio Tartaglia as part of a tie with Canadian rivals Pierre Lueders and Dave MacEachern at Nagano 1998.