The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur regions announced on Tuesday their “wish to propose to the sports movement and to the State” a joint candidacy to host the Winter Olympics in 2030 on behalf of the France. The two regions and the French Olympic and Paralympic sports committees, in consultation with the State, “have come together to consider” this candidacy, it is explained in a press release. The objective is to arrive at a collective decision by mid-September.
“Joint work, involving all the relevant state services, will be carried out in the coming weeks”, they specify, with a decision expected in mid-September. “Our conviction is that (with) a duel of two French candidates, nothing would have been good,” the president of the AURA region Laurent Wauquiez told AFP. The approach of the two communities, on which the French Alps are located, is done “as part of a deeper reflection on the Winter Games”, they specify, taking into account the “desired essential changes” by the International Olympic Committee.
This concerns in particular “the taking into account of the issues linked to the preservation of biodiversity and the acceleration of global warming”, “the need to use existing infrastructures, some of which are from the Olympic Games in Albertville in 1992” or even “the essential reduction in organizational costs” and funding “essentially through private revenue (partners, ticketing, etc.)”. “Our objective is to succeed in embodying this turning point in the spirit of Olympism. We want to be able to hold the first sustainable Winter Olympics. Anchored in the territories, which are turning the page on gigantism”, explained Laurent Wauquiez.
“We can propose a new model of the carbon-neutral Winter Olympic Games from 2030,” assured the president of the Paca region Renaud Muselier, quoted in the press release. “The Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in France in 2030 are a tremendous opportunity to continue the momentum of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games (…) Together, we must imagine” Games of the future in the context of global warming climate”, Games that promote transitions in the world of the mountains, economical Games and popular Games”, commented the president of the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF), David Lappartient, quoted in the press release.
Renaud Muselier and Laurent Wauquiez will take part in a lunch at the Elysée devoted to the Games on Wednesday, in the presence of Emmanuel Macron, the Minister of Sports Amélie Oudéa-Castera, David Lappartient and the President of the CPSF (French Paralympic and Sports Committee ) Marie-Amélie Le Fur, Renaud Muselier told the press. “We have a real window of opportunity because the IOC is waiting for a candidacy that corresponds to this new spirit that they want to instill in Olympism”, enthused Laurent Wauquiez.
Other cities have expressed their interest in hosting the 2030 Winter Olympics. Unhappy candidate against Milan for the 2026 Winter Olympics, Sweden entered the second phase of the candidacy process in June. Salt Lake City, a candidate known for several years and already host in 2002, is also in the running: but because of the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028, the Mormon capital now prefers the 2034 edition, while remaining available for 2030 France has hosted the Winter Olympics three times, in Chamonix in 1924, Grenoble in 1968 and Albertville in 1992. Paris also organized the Summer Olympics in 1900 and 1924, and will host them again. next year.
