With the Paris summer Olympics getting underway in the same year that Chamonix celebrated the centenary of hosting the first ever Winter Games in 1924, the IOC has used the occasion to announce that the 2030 Winter Olympics will be heading back to France for the first time since the Albertville 1992 Games.
Unusually, they also announced the hosts of the Winter Olympics after that, a decade away. Utah, which hosted the games in 2002, will do so again 2034, becoming the first double Winter Olympic hosts of the 21st century.
With the next Winter Olympics scheduled for Italy in 18 months time, the two new host announcements means the Games sill be staged in Western European and North American locations for at least the next 12 years, after a similar period being staged either is Asia or the far east of Europe at Sochi.
Salt Lake City – Utah has been chosen for numerous reasons: the opportunity to build on the positive legacy from the Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City in 2002 and increase the existing Games Legacy Fund; the fact that all competition venues are within one hour’s drive of the main Olympic Village in Salt Lake City; the excellent experience within the US in organising and hosting major international events; and the ability to draw on existing venues that are well maintained meaning no significant capital investment is required.
The IOC had said the France and Utah bids were almost certain to be confirmed some time ago. Whilst the Utah announcement is earlier than normal, the French confirmation is a little later than the usual decision 7 years ahead. The Olympic committee had been engaged in a period of soul searching over host choices with the number of cities bidding to host the Games dropping, some that had bid pulling out due to the lack of public enthusiasm to host and a number of reports suggesting that snow reliability for many possible venues will lessen in the coming decades due to climate change. So the decisions for the next decade give some certainty now.
In Utah’s case, in addition to having the existing infrastructure from the 2002 Games, more than 80% of the public, the national government, and state and city governments, show strong support of the 2034 Winter Olympics. Utah is also considered a more ‘climate-reliable’ destination for a Games nearly a decade away.
“We’re thrilled the International Olympic Committee has chosen Salt Lake City – Utah to host the 2034 Winter Olympics. The 2034 Winter Olympics will, no doubt, raise awareness of Utah’s incredible ski resorts, many of which are within an hour’s drive from Salt Lake City, plus our fantastic snow record – there’s a reason why we’re home to The Greatest Snow on Earth®,” commented Rachel Bremer, Tourism Global Markets Director at Utah Office of Tourism, adding, “Having hosted the 2002 Winter Olympics, we’re excited to maintain, and improve upon, our legacy as one of the best destinations to ski in the world. Therefore, ‘Elevate’ will be our main theme for the upcoming Winter Olympics – we want to elevate local communities, elevate sport, and elevate the Games experience. We also want to use this as an opportunity to unify people at the community, state and national level.”
The 2030 French Winter Olympics will combine existing facilities from the 1992 Albertville Games including the bobsleigh run at La Plagne, the ski jumps at Courchevel and the Alpine skiing race courses at Courchevel and Méribel with some new venues, at least in terms of Olympic level competition, such as La Clusaz for creopss country skiing and Le Grand Bornand for biathlon and well as Serre Chevalier and Montgenèvre for snowboarding. The opening and closing ceremony as well as ice sports will be stage in and around Nice on the Mediterranean coast.
There were 84 ‘yes’ votes for French Alps 2030 by the IOC Members, 4 ‘no’ votes and 7 abstentions, out of 88 valid votes.
“France pushes the limits of excellence every time it organises a sports event. We believe in the future of our mountains, and we need to support their model for the future: innovative, ambitious, mindful of ecological issues, and accessible by everyone. I reaffirm to you here this morning the full commitment of the French State to organising these Games. Paris 2024 will be a success, and the same will be true for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 2030. You can trust us – we will be there, and we are proud to support this candidature for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 2030,” said France’s President Macron.