A few years after the Summer Games in Paris, France is once again hosting the Olympics. The IOC has awarded the French Alps the right to host the 2030 Winter Games – but only if guarantees are provided.
The French Alps will host the 2030 Winter Games. This was decided by the International Olympic Committee at its General Assembly before the Summer Games in Paris. However, the IOC gave its approval on the condition that the French government and the regional authorities provide the financial and organizational guarantees that are still outstanding. Only then will the hosting contract be signed by the IOC.
The election was already considered a formality before the 142nd IOC session. France had already been named the preferred candidate in November. The IOC leadership recommended the award to the General Assembly in June. The umbrella organization wants to award the 2034 Winter Games to Salt Lake City in the US state of Utah for the second time after 2002.
France already has plenty of Olympic experience. Winter Games have taken place in the French Alps in Chamonix (1924), Grenoble (1968) and Albertville (1992). This year, Paris is hosting the summer games for the third time after 1900 and 1924.
Olympics in France: Ice competitions in Nice
The 2030 Winter Games are planned for the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes regions. Several ice competitions are to take place in Nice. The concept envisages the use of existing competition venues almost exclusively.
Due to the political turmoil in France and the early parliamentary elections, the necessary guarantees from the government and authorities for the Winter Games project have recently been delayed. There is currently only a caretaker government. Head of state Emmanuel Macron does not want to appoint a new prime minister until after the Olympics. After the election a good two weeks ago, no political camp has a majority in the National Assembly.
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 reiterated: “We would not vote if we did not have this feeling.” During the presentation on the IOC stage, Macron emphasized once again that he stands behind the application. “You can trust us, we will be there,” said Macron.
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Switzerland could host in 2038
The next Winter Games in 2026 will be held in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo in Italy. For 2038, the IOC wants Switzerland to be given preferential treatment if it applies again. The Swiss application was rejected by the IOC selection committee just as early as the race with France and the USA, as was the Swedish project. The last German application for the Winter Games was Munich for 2022, but this failed due to public resistance.
In the long term, the winter spectacle is a problem for the IOC because of climate change. According to researchers’ calculations, only ten countries will have enough snow and ice to host the Winter Games from 2040 onwards.
Source: Stern
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