The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (PACA) regions wish to present a joint bid to host the Winter Olympics in 2030, with the ambition of taking environmental issues into account.
The two regions, on which the Alps are located, and the French Olympic and Paralympic sports committees “approached to consider” this candidacy, is explained in a press release published on Tuesday 18 July. “A joint work will take place in the coming weeks, involving all the State services concerned”they specify, with a decision expected in mid-September.
“Our belief is this[avec] a duel between two French candidates, nothing would have gone right”the president of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, Laurent Wauquiez, explained to AFP.
The approach takes place in the context of a reflection on the Winter Games, taking into account the “essential changes desired” by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the press release states. This concerns in particular “taking into account the issues related to the conservation of biodiversity and the acceleration of global warming”, “the need to use existing infrastructure, some of which came from the Albertville Olympics in 1992” OR “the essential reduction of organizational costs” and financing “Essentially through income of a private nature (partners, ticketing, etc.)”.
Other cities already candidates
“Our goal is to be able to embody this breakthrough in the spirit of Olympism. We want to be able to organize the first sustainable Winter Olympics. Anchored to the territories, which turn the page on gigantism»Wauquiez explained further.
The President of the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF), David Lappartient, meanwhile welcomed the “the opportunity to continue the momentum of the Games (…) of Paris 2024 ».
Other cities have expressed their interest in organizing these Olympics.
Unhappy candidates against AC Milan for the 2026 Winter Olympics, Sweden entered the second stage of the bid process in June and are favourites. This Nordic skiing flagship nation has never staged a Winter Olympics.
Salt Lake City is also in the running, a candidate known for several years and already host in 2002: but due to the Los Angeles Summer Olympics in 2028, the Mormon capital now prefers 2034, while remaining available for 2030.
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The allocation of the 2030 Olympics will take place at the latest during the IOC session preceding the opening of the Paris Summer Games, the organization confirmed in mid-June.
France has already hosted the Winter Olympics three times, in Chamonix in 1924, Grenoble in 1968 and Albertville in 1992.
