The French Alps and Salt Lake City, capital of the US state of Utah, are leading the race to host the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games 2030 and 2034.
This was revealed by the International Olympic Committee’s Karl Stoss at a press conference held in Paris this week.
Both locations came up as the preferred candidates after the Future Host Commission selected them from a pool of other presented projects at the Commission’s latest meeting with interested parties in Lausanne.
Stoss, who is also the Chair of the Future Host Commission for the Olympic Winter Games, said: “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.
“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 socio-economic 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 optimise 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 IOC is now expected to enter detailed talks with both of the hosts to reach an official agreement before the next IOC session in Paris next July.
Switzerland officials have also been invited into “privileged dialogue” for the 2038 Winter Games with their ‘Switzerland 203x’ candidate campaign, but Stoss also noted that a good venue plan is yet to be devised.
He added: “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.”
