Who Will Host the 2030 Winter Olympics?

23rd November 2023

Last modified on November 27th, 2023

First there were some serious contenders, then they all dropped out. Delays happened with no viable candidates but now serious contenders are back with battle underway this week.

The intitial front-runner and clear favourite was Sapporo in Japan.

Then there was a collapse in public support in Japan following the Tokyo 2020 corruption scandals and it withdrew.

Bids from Barcelona in Spain and Vancouver in Canada were also abandoned due to lack of public support.

Salt Lake City was the only viable candidate left, but it wanted the 2034 Games not the 2030 Games.

Any decision was delayed as there were no suitable candidates.

There was talk of a possible joint bid featuring Valais in Switzerland and Chamonix in France, but the two countries are now locked in battle.

Sweden has also come forward, in what is now a three-horse race.

This week France, Sweden and Switzerland have made a 30-minute digital presentations of their bids to the International Olympic Committee who are meeting in Paris.

So, what are the details of the three bids and what happens next?

France

France has hosted the Winter Games three times — at Chamonix in 1924, Grenoble in 1968 and Albertville in 1992.

The Games would centre around Nice on the Mediterranean coast, and the Alps to the north.

Much of the women’s alpine skiing would take place in Meribel, with the men competing in neighbouring Courchevel.

The slalom would take place in Val d’Isère.

Bobsleigh, luge and skeleton would happen at La Plagne.

Cross country skiing in La Clusaz and biathlon in Le Grand Bornand.

The ski jumping and Nordic combined would take place in Courchevel.

Briançonnais would include ski cross, snowboard cross, snowboard and freestyle skiing.

Figure skating, ice hockey, short-track speed skating and curling would take place in Nice.

The Athletes Village would be in Nice, along with the international broadcasting centre and the area would likely stage the closing ceremony.

“Sober, economical Games, where we will celebrate sport and our mountains,” said the French Olympic committee president David Lappartient.

“The most beautiful mountains in the world, designed for the Olympic Games.”

Sweden

Stockholm and Åre in Sweden bid for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games, but were defeated in 2019 by Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo – the country’s eighth unsuccessful bid for the event.

Under Sweden’s proposals, Stockholm would stage the ice sports, with the snow disciplines held in Åre and Östersund.

It is possible Latvia, across the Baltic Sea would host the sliding competitions in Sigulda.

The Swedish plan would use existing venues across the country, including at ski resort Are that is 100s of kms from Stockholm.

The Swedish plan would use existing venues across the country.

“The ambition for the Olympics and Paralympics in Sweden is the world’s most sustainable Games, where a new standard for the future is set ecologically, socially and economically,” said the Swedish Olympic Committee President, Hans von Uthmann.

Switzerland

Switzerland has hosted the Winter Olympics twice before – in 1928 and 1948 in St Moritz.

Switzerland’s plan is altogether different and would take place across the whole country.

It would be the first ‘host country’ in the history of the Winter Olympics.

It would be a de-centralised model using existing facilities across the country, in all four language regions of Switzerland.

The Opening Ceremony would take place in Lausanne, the Olympic capital.

Swiss capital Bern has been proposed for the Closing Ceremony.

“Switzerland is in the fortunate position of already having practically all the necessary infrastructure – from sports facilities to accommodation to the transport network,” said the President of Swiss Ski, Urs Lehmann. .

“Let’s seize this opportunity and let’s make the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games not just an unforgettable sporting event, but a sustainable stimulus programme for Switzerland and Swiss sport.”

IOC members last month approved a proposal that both the 2030 and 2034 Games could be awarded at the same time.

So far Salt Lake City is on only named candidate interested for 2034.

It is thought Switzerland might bid against Salt Lake City in 2034, if it is unsuccessful for 2030.

The IOC Executive Board will meet in Paris next week, from November 29th to December 1st, to decide which candidates it will enter the dialogue phase with.

The IOC is expected to make its final decision in 2024.