A total of 82 IOC members are in Lausanne to vote on whether Stockholm Åre or Milan Cortina will host the 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games ©Getty Images

A total of 42 votes is likely to be needed to secure the right to host the 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics.

Sweden’s Stockholm Åre and Milan Cortina from Italy are vying to be chosen to stage the Games in a vote here later today.

A total of 82 International Olympic Committee (IOC) members are likely to cast votes in the ballot, making the total needed to secure a simple majority 42.

The reduction from the full house of 95 IOC members is explained as follows.

Four members are not attending, having been "excused" from the 134th Session.

A total of four IOC members are not in Lausanne to take part in today's event, while another three are
A total of four IOC members are not in Lausanne to take part in today's event, while another three are "self-suspended" and ineligible - meaning the winning candidate will need a majority of 42 votes ©Getty Images

They are: the Grand-Duke of Luxembourg; shooter Danka Bartekova, who is competing at the European Games in Minsk; former ice-hockey star Hayley Wickenheiser from Canada; and the recently-elected Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck from Bhutan.

Three further members are either suspended or self-suspended: Kuwait’s Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah; Ireland’s Patrick Hickey and former sprinter Frank Fredericks from Namibia.

The two IOC members from Sweden and the three from Italy will not participate in the vote.

Finally, IOC President Thomas Bach generally abstains from voting, although the German reserves the right to do so in case of a tie.

Announcement of the winner is expected soon after 6pm Swiss time.