France Conditionally Confirmed As Host Of 2030 Winter Olympics
France has been provisionally chosen to host the 2030 Winter Olympics, with the French Alps set to be the main venue.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) made the announcement on Wednesday but added conditions that France must meet before the decision is finalised. The French government needs to provide key financial guarantees by October 1st and have these ratified by March 1, 2025.
President Emmanuel Macron assured the IOC of France's commitment, promising to secure these guarantees once a new prime minister is in place after the upcoming Paris 2024 Summer Games.
He stated, "I confirm the full commitment of the French nation, and assure you that I will ask the next prime minister to include not only this guarantee but also an Olympic Law in the priorities of the new government."
The decision follows the IOC's preference for the French Alps bid since June. This bid faced delays due to recent parliamentary elections and the formation of a new government. The IOC's vote saw an overwhelming majority in favour, with 84 out of 88 members supporting France's candidacy.
French Olympic chief David Lappartient expressed his joy, highlighting the swift and successful bid process. He said, "This is a feeling of happiness. During the last year we spent massive on the bid. Now this is it."
French Alps and Nice To Be Venues For 2030 Winter Olympics
The planned venues for the 2030 Winter Games include ski resorts in the French Alps and ice sports venues in Nice. Macron acknowledged the challenges posed by climate change on winter sports, emphasising the need for a sustainable model. “We have now to invent a new model, a sustainable one, for people living in the mountains,” he said.“We do believe in the future of Winter Games. We do believe in the future of our mountains.”
Renaud Muselier, president of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, also noted the impact of climate change, stating, "We are not skiing today as we used to ski in the past. Climate change is a reality with an impact on the mountains."
This will be the fourth time France has hosted the Winter Olympics, with previous games held in Chamonix (1924), Grenoble (1968), and Albertville (1992). The French bid aims to leverage the expertise gained from these past events and the upcoming Paris 2024 Summer Olympics.
Salt Lake City, Utah, has been selected to host the 2034 Winter Games, following France's 2030 event. The announcement solidifies a decade of winter sports excitement and preparations, with both locations looking to set new standards for the Olympic Games.
