IOC recommends French Alps as host of 2030 Winter Olympics, Salt Lake City-Utah set to stage 2034 Games

A late bid from the French Alps and Nice has been recommended by the International Olympic Committee as the preferred host of the 2030 Winter Olympics.

Reports only emerged in the summer that a proposal was being put together, but it now seems to have beaten efforts from Switzerland and Sweden.

Salt Lake City-Utah, which was the only host put forward for the 2034 Games, looks set to stage a Winter Olympics for the second time in 32 years, having been named as the preferred bidder.

The formal awarding of both Games is expected next summer, when IOC members meet ahead of the Paris Olympics. It will also present one of the shortest turnarounds in recent decades between a decision and the start of a Games.

The bid from France will follow the model of recent Games, in that ‘indoor’ sports like ice hockey, figure skating, speed skating (short and long track) and curling will be held in the Mediterranean city of Nice, with snow and outdoor ice-based sports taking place in the Alps.

Sapporo had been the frontrunners for 2030 but pulled out of the process in October. Switzerland is now favourite to host 2038, with the IOC giving the bid “privileged dialogue” status.

France now looks likely to host two Olympic Games in the space of six years, with the summer Games heading to Paris in 2024.

“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,” said Karl Stoss, chair of the Future Host Commission for the Olympic Winter Games.

“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.”

Mr Stoss warned that the hosts now need to “do their homework” and that the “decision is not made yet”.

Europe is now set to host back-to-back Winter Olympics, with the Italian bid from Milan-Cortina staging 2026.