French Alps Conditionally Selected as Host of 2030 Winter Olympics
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has conditionally selected the French Alps as the host site for the 2030 Winter Olympics. Announced on Wednesday, the decision requires France to deliver key financial guarantees in the coming months to secure its position.
The French bid has been the preferred choice since June. However, due to recent elections and the presence of a caretaker government, organizers were unable to provide the necessary state and regional financial guarantees on time. To move forward, France must have the guarantees signed by its Prime Minister by October 1 and ratified by Parliament no later than March 1, 2025, according to the IOC.
In an effort to reassure the IOC and show his support, French President Emmanuel Macron addressed the IOC’s 142nd Session prior to the vote on Wednesday. “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,” he stated. “Seven years ago we made the same commitment for the Paris 2024 Summer Games, and we delivered. We will do the same.”
The IOC acknowledged receiving several assurances regarding the outstanding guarantees, including the state’s Olympic delivery guarantee and the financial guarantees of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur regions—the two main areas involved in hosting the Games. However, the organization emphasized it would not countersign the host city contract, which France has already signed, until all guarantees are delivered.
The bid received overwhelming support, earning 84 out of 88 votes. This selection means France is set to host the Winter Games just six years after the Summer Olympics in Paris, slated to begin on Friday. The project aims to unite the northern and southern regions of the French Alps, offering athletes and spectators a diverse alpine experience.
“This is a feeling of happiness,” expressed French Olympic chief David Lappartient. “During the last year, we invested massively in the bid. Now, this is it. Never has an Olympic bid been so fast and then succeeded. This allows us to follow the wave of Paris 2024, to benefit from their expertise.”
France has a rich history of hosting the Winter Games, having previously staged them in Chamonix in 1924, Grenoble in 1968, and Albertville in 1992. The potential 2030 Winter Olympics in the French Alps promises to continue this legacy, fostering international cooperation and sportsmanship on the global stage.
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French Alps conditionally confirmed as host of 2030 Winter Olympics
cgtn.com
