In late November, following a recommendation by the International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s Future Host Commission for the Olympic Winter Games, the IOC Executive Board (EB) invited the French National Olympic Committee (CNOSF) and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) into targeted dialogues toward hosting the Winter Olympics and Paralympics 2030 in the French Alps, and the 2034 edition in Salt Lake City, Utah. The IOC will now start more detailed discussions with the two Preferred Hosts, led by their national olympic committees (NOCs), with the aim of awarding both editions at the 142nd IOC Session this July in Paris, France.
In addition, the IOC EB decided to grant the non-edition-specific project, Switzerland 203x, a special status by inviting it into “Privileged Dialogue” for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games 2038.
“The Commission members were deeply impressed by all the projects’ technical excellence, passion for Olympic winter sport, and commitment to the sustainability principles of Olympic Agenda 2020+5,” says IOC Member Karl Stoss, chair of the Future Host Commission for the Olympic Winter Games. “What really stood out about the French Alps and Salt Lake City, Utah, projects was their vision for the athlete experience, their alignment with regional and national socioeconomic development plans, and their very strong support from the public and from all levels of government. The commission felt strongly that the other interested parties would benefit from more time to optimize the athlete experience of their future games, and to continue to build on their burgeoning foundations of public and political support. Switzerland 203x has great potential, with its project aligned with Olympic Agenda 2020+5 and the principles of sustainability, cost reduction, environmental protection, and legacy.”
The principle of a potential double allocation of the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games 2030 and 2034 was approved by the 141st IOC Session in Mumbai, India, last October. This decision, which had the full support of the presidents of the Winter Olympic International Federations, was taken to bring security for the Winter Olympics and Paralympics in climate-reliable host regions. This allows the IOC time to reflect on the long-term future of the Winter Olympics and Paralympics, given the preliminary results of studies it has commissioned on the impact of climate change.
The Future Host Commission met in Lausanne, Switzerland, in November, and the NOCs of interested parties with a current interest in hosting the Winter Olympics and Paralympics presented their projects to the commission.
The main reasons why Salt Lake City, Utah, and the USOPC were proposed for the Targeted Dialogue were:
- The vision to build on the positive legacies of the Olympic Winter Games Salt Lake City 2002 and increase the existing Games Legacy Fund, in order to extend the lifecycle of numerous venues and sports programmes
- Alignment with Olympic Agenda 2020/Olympic Agenda 2020+5, drawing on 100% existing venues, which are well maintained thanks to the 2002 Legacy Fund
- No significant capital investment required
- The very compact masterplan, with all competition venues within one hour of the main Olympic Village in Salt Lake City, offering a unique opportunity for an exceptional athlete experience
- Excellent experience within the U.S. in organizing and hosting major international events in most Olympic winter sports
The Salt Lake City, Utah, bid has strong support from:
- The public (exceptional support of over 80% of Utahans)
- National government, with full support evidenced in letters of commitment
- State and city governments, demonstrated by guarantee letters and state legislation for both the 2030 and 2034 Games, including the underwriting of the Games Operational Budget by the State of Utah
- Given the studies commissioned by the IOC on the potential impact of climate change on winter sports, Salt Lake City, Utah, provides an opportunity to secure a traditional winter sports and climate-reliable destination well in advance of the games.
Please find here the full IOC feasibility assessments for the French Alps and Salt Lake City, Utah.
The decision to invite Switzerland 203x into Privileged Dialogue is based on the very good fundamentals of the Swiss project, as presented to the Future Host Commission and discussed by the IOC EB. These are the many existing venues; the great experience of Switzerland in hosting international winter sport events; and its role as host country of the IOC and many international sports federations. The vision of 203x includes interest in future Winter Olympics and Paralympics up to 2038.
In all, the Future Host Commission evaluated four projects. As well as those from the French Alps; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Switzerland 203x, there was also a Swedish project, which presented an impressive vision to stage the most sustainable games in history, but it did not have all the elements required to be taken further at this stage.
The Future Host Commission will now set a timeline for the Targeted Dialogues, and it will report back to the EB on the outcome of these discussions, ahead of the 142nd IOC Session in July in Paris, France. If all the requirements are met, the EB can then propose a host election to the IOC Session.
