After Chamonix 1924, Grenoble 1968 and Albertville 1992, the Winter Olympic Games returned to France. The news will not be made official for a few months, probably in 2024, but the IOC Executive Board confirmed this Wednesday that it was entering into “targeted dialogue” with the sole candidacy of the French Alps for the organization of the 2030 Winter Olympics. Sweden and Switzerland. Salt Lake City is in pole position for 2034, while Switzerland leaves with the favor of predictions for 2038, or 2042 at the latest.
Barring an improbable twist, France will win its case and will be the scene of a new Olympiad, six years after the Summer Olympics in Paris, next summer. “It remains to complete the file in detail. There is an excellent base, we must recognize France’s capacity to organize various events in all disciplines,” indicates Karl Stoss, member of the IOC, explaining that it is appropriate for France to “do its homework”. This is a question of security, financing, environment.
And he continued, regarding the strengths of the Alpine bid: “There is a very long tradition of winter sports and the hosting of winter sports competitions. The other strong point is the experience of Paris 2024 which will be used for 2030. There is the support of the president, the regions, the municipalities, not to mention the federations, everyone is delighted to organize the Olympics “.
The presentation by the French Alps bid team on November 21 was clearly convincing. David Lappartient (CNOSF), Marie-Amélie le Fur (paralympics), the Minister of Sports Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, the presidents of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur regions Laurent Wauquiez and Renaud Muselier as well as the champions Martin Fourcade and Marie Bochet made the article for 45 minutes on November 21. The project is based on 95% existing sites, with alpine skiing between Courchevel-Méribel and Val d’Isère, cross-country skiing in La Clusaz, and Nice to host the Olympic village and skating.
Despite the usual verbal precautions at this stage of the process, the IOC considers that it has “all the guarantees” with France. “There is an excellent base, we must recognize France’s capacity to organize various events in all disciplines,” relishes Mr. Stoss, rejoicing to see that “the French candidacy can use all the sponsors of Paris 2024” .