IOC Session approves principle of 2030-2034 double allocation for Olympic Winter Games

The 141st International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session in Mumbai, India, today approved the principle of a double allocation for the Olympic Winter Games in 2030 and in 2034 by the IOC Session in 2024, should the appropriate conditions exist.

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.

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.

Games optimisation

A key component of ensuring a sustainable future for the Olympic Games and the Olympic Winter Games is the IOC’s Games Optimisation Group, which was established in 2022 under the third recommendation of the Tokyo 2020 Coordination Commission Report and has met five times since.

Its first report was presented by Chair Kirsty Coventry during today’s proceedings at the IOC Session. The remit of the group is to ensure that the Games remain relevant by leveraging expertise across all key areas of Games delivery, and as a consequence maintaining the high interest in hosting seen today.

It includes representatives of all the key players in the delivery of the Games, and has already created workshops with the main stakeholders, such as Organising Committees, athletes, NOCs, media, TOP Partners and IFs.

The group has focused on optimisations that can be applicable to all editions of the Games, and those which are possible only in the context of specific editions.

*Release Courtesy: IOC - International Olympic Committee