October, 15th
The proposal was presented on Friday to the IOC Executive Board (EB) in Mumbai by the Chair of the IOC’s Future Host Commission for the Olympic Winter Games, Karl Stoss. It was supported by the presidents of all seven Olympic Winter Sports International Federations (IFs), and was unanimously approved by the IOC Session.
The proposal was made in order to allow more time for the Olympic Movement to address the challenges made clear by the preliminary findings of a report looking at the impact of climate change on the Olympic Winter Games, which was also presented to the IOC EB on Friday. It reveals a reduction in the pool of potential hosts by 2040, and further by mid-century.
This will require deliberations on a potential rotation, the composition of the programme, the different needs for sports on ice and snow, and many other elements.
Discussions about a sustainable economic model for the Olympic Winter Games are also ongoing, after another study by the Commission showing that the costs of organising sports events at the Games are substantially higher than the combined costs of equivalent World Championships.
The Future Host Commission believes that the organisation of Olympic Winter events needs to be based on World Championship service levels, experience and budgets, while keeping the must-have elements to preserve the uniqueness of the Olympic Games.
Commission Chair Karl Stoss said: “Whilst we look forward to celebrating 100 years of the Olympic Winter Games next February, there is no doubt that we are facing great challenges, and our goal is to ensure we can continue to hold successful Games in the future.
“A double allocation would bring security for the Olympic Movement in solid traditional winter sport and climate-reliable hosts until 2034, while allowing the IOC time to reflect on the long-term future of the Winter Games.”
Current interest in Winter and Summer Games
There are three countries or regions, together with their National Olympic Committees (NOCs), interested in the Olympic Winter Games 2030 that are currently finalising their feasibility studies: France, Sweden and Switzerland. Salt Lake City has expressed a preference for the Olympic Winter Games 2034 but is available for 2030, if needed.
The Future Host Commission is conducting its own feasibility study on each Interested Party, to be discussed during the Commission’s meeting in November.
Should the Commission feel that it is in a position to do so, it will recommend the opening of a Targeted Dialogue to the IOC EB at its meeting in November, with a view to an IOC Session election in 2024.
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