Supplement for the Alps - The Olympic Winter Games 2030 will go to France - pending
The French Alps will host the Winter Games 2030. This decision was made by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) during its General Assembly before the Summer Games in Paris. However, the IOC's approval came with the condition that the French government and local authorities guarantee the remaining financial and organizational commitments. Only then will the host contract be signed by the IOC.
The decision was considered a foregone conclusion before the 142nd IOC Session. France had already been named the preferred candidate in November. The IOC leadership had recommended the approval during the General Assembly in June. For 2034, the IOC plans to award the Winter Games for the second time to Salt Lake City in the US state of Utah.
France has considerable Olympic experience. Winter Games have been held in the French Alps in Chamonix (1924), Grenoble (1968), and Albertville (1992). Paris is hosting the Summer Games for the third time, following 1900 and 1924.
Olympics in France: Ice Events in Nice
Planned for the Winter Games 2030 are the regions Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Several ice events are planned for Nice. The concept primarily involves the use of existing competition venues.
Political turbulence in France and advanced parliamentary elections have delayed the necessary guarantees from the government and authorities for the Winter Games project. Currently, there is only an interim government. French President Emmanuel Macron will only appoint a new prime minister after the Olympics. In the National Assembly, no political faction has a majority after the election two weeks ago.
David Lappartient, head of France's National Olympic Committee, had previously assured: "Even if there is no majority in parliament, there is a strong majority for the Games." IOC President Thomas Bach confirmed: "We would not vote if we didn't feel that way." Macron reiterated during the IOC presentation on the stage: "You can trust us, we will be there."
Switzerland could be the host in 2038
The next Winter Games in 2026 will take place in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. According to the IOC's will, Switzerland will receive preferential treatment if it reapplies for the 2038 Games. The Swiss bid had been eliminated in the same early stage of the selection process as the French and American projects. A German Winter Games bid had failed most recently with Munich for 2022 due to popular resistance.
Long-term, the Winter Spectacle is a concern for the IOC due to climate change. According to calculations by researchers from 2040, only ten countries will still be snowy and icy enough for Winter Games.
- The French Alps, historically hosting Winter Games in Olympia, have been chosen by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to host the Olympic Winter Games 2030.
- Despite needing financial and organizational commitments from the French government and local authorities, President Emmanuel Macron and his government have expressed confidence in delivering on these requirements.
- The Olympic Winter Games 2030 will not be the first time Paris and the nearby French Alps, specifically regions like Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, are involved with the Olympics; previous Winter Games took place in Chamonix (1924), Grenoble (1968), and Albertville (1992).
- Looking beyond 2038, the IOC recognizes potential challenges stemming from climate change, with projections indicating that only ten countries will remain suitable for hosting Winter Games from 2040 onwards.
