A survey carried out by DemoSCOPE suggests that 57 per cent of people would support Switzerland's candidacy. 

Backing is particularly high among young people while support in the west of Switzerland is also above average, the survey's results have revealed.

Sixty-six per cent of people - which would represent two-thirds of the Swiss population - said they were confident their country would have a realistic opportunity against any bids from other, bigger countries.

Seventy-five per cent of people said hosting the 2026 Winter Olympics would have a positive effect on the Swiss tourism industry, with 66 per cent believing that the country's existing infrastructure would make it an "ideal candidate" to host.

However, the survey did reveal that 55 per cent believed that the cost to the taxpayer would outweigh the benefits to the general public.

A Taskforce is currently evaluating five projects which have been put forward as part of Switzerland’s likely bid.

Different parts of the country are represented within the five bids, including a joint effort by western French-speaking cantons entitle "Swiss Made Winter Games".

An "Olympic Winter Games 2026 Graubünden and partners" attempt has also been launched along with a "Central Switzerland 2026" bid.

Two others are entitled "Switzerland 2026" and "2026 - Games for our future", with full details of precisely what they represent still to be compiled.

Workshops are now due to be held over the next four months with each of the five projects.

It is still possible the bid could be abandoned if a suitable candidate does not emerge.

St Moritz, an Alpine resort town in the Engadin, had hosted the Olympics in 1928 and 1948.

A number of Swiss candidacies have failed in recent years, including for the 2006 Winter Olympics and Paralympics when Sion, the capital of canton Valais, was defeated by Turin.

Other bids from Graubünden, Bern, Zurich, Lausanne and Geneva have all failed because of local opposition or because the Swiss Olympic Association did not support them.

Trento in Italy, Dresden in Germany, 2022 race runner-up Almaty in Kazakhstan, Sweden's capital Stockholm, Lake Placid in the United States and the Japanese city of Sapporo have all been touted as potential bidders for 2026.

Quebec City in Canada, an early contender, has already announced that it will not pursue its interest.