“Continue the momentum of the Paris Games”, two French regions candidates for the 2030 Winter Olympics

2023-07-19 05:44:43

After Paris 2024, the Alps 2030? The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur regions announced on Tuesday their “wish to propose to the sports movement and to the State” a joint candidacy to host the Winter Olympics in 2030 on behalf of France. The two regions and the French Olympic and Paralympic sports committees, in consultation with the State, “have come together to consider” this candidacy, it is explained in a press release. The objective is to arrive at a collective decision by mid-September.

“The Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in France in 2030 are a tremendous opportunity to continue the momentum of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games (…) Together, we must imagine the Games of the future in the context of global warming… Games that promote transitions in the world of the mountains, economical Games and popular Games”, commented the president of the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF), David Lappartient. The last French candidacy for the Winter Olympics dates back to 2018 with Annecy.

Since Catalonia withdrew its candidacy, three cities have positioned themselves for the 2030 Olympics. These are Sapporo (Japan), Salt Lake City (Utah, United States) and Stockholm (Sweden). If the Alps were to win, it would be the 7th Olympic Games organized in France. France has already hosted the Winter Olympics three times, in Chamonix (Haute-Savoie) in 1924, in Grenoble (Isère) in 1968, and in Albertville (Savoie) in 1992. Paris has also organized the Olympic Games in summer in 1900 and 1924, and will host them again next year.