Swiss Goverment Backs Bid for 2038 Winter Olympics
1st July 2026
Switzerland has hosted the Games twice and is bidding to follow the 2034 Winter Olympics set to be held in Salt Lake City. NEW
“The Federal Council supports hosting the 2038 Winter Games,” said a statement from the Swiss government.
According to the government’s statement, there will be a financial injection of up to 200m CHF (xxxm) from the federal government.
“The federal contribution will be used to co-fund the Paralympic Games, subsidise public transport for visitors, cover the additional costs incurred by the organising body, and set up a contingency fund for unforeseen expenses,” the official document states.
Switzerland has until the end of 2027 to prepare its IOC bid without competition from other countries.
The country was looking at bidding for the 2030 or 2034 Games but the IOC was already in advanced negotiations with France for the French Alps 2030 and the United States for Salt Lake City 2034.
Rather than cast aside Swiss interest the IOC effectively decided to ‘reserve its place’.
Although the Switzerland 2038 bid is being presented as the greenest in history, local communities and environmental groups continue to have serious misgivings about its impact.
Opposition to a bid remains with concerns about the cost, the real benefits and its environmental impact.
In May a report by the gfs.bern research institute concluded that 61% of the Swiss population supported a bid.
The survey also found:
- 33% firmly backed the bid
- 28% were somewhat in favour
- 21% were wholly opposed
- 13% who remained somewhat sceptical
- 4% were undecided.
The previous Swiss Winter Olympics were held in St Moritz in 1928 and 1948.
This time it looks like it will take place across the country.
Events would have taken place across the whole country.
It would have been the first ‘host country’ in the history of the Winter Olympics.
The bid proposed a de-centralised model using existing facilities across the country, in all four language regions of Switzerland.
“Switzerland has practically all the necessary infrastructure – from sports facilities to accommodation to the transport network.
Calgary in Canada is reported to be interested in a bid for the 2038 Winter Olympics should a Swiss bid fade.
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