Switzerland solidifies Olympic bid ahead of key IOC meeting

Photo: Hansjörg Keller

Salt Lake City was previously the only interested party involved in discussions to host in 2034

SALT LAKE CITY — The Swiss Sports Parliament voted unanimously last week to approve its plans to bid for either the 2030 or 2034 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games just in time for a pivotal International Olympic Committee meeting.

According to a press release from Swiss Olympic, the European country aims to host what it calls a “decentralized Games,” where events would take place in the four corners of the country using existing infrastructure.

“The delegates of the Olympic sports federations are thus sending a strong signal in favor of the project. This can indeed breathe new life into our country, both from a sporting point of view and on a societal level,” Jürg Stahl, Swiss Olympic president, said in a press release.

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The Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games has also set its sights on a 2034 Winter Olympics. GamesBids reported last month that Karl Stoss, IOC Future Host Commission for the Winter Games chair, stated that Salt Lake City was the only interested party involved in discussions to host in 2034, and confirmed that the city has secured all necessary guarantees to host in either 2030 or 2034.

When asked how Switzerland’s bid could impact Salt Lake City’s chance of securing the 2034 Winter Olympics, a spokesperson for the Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games declined to comment.

The IOC will meet tomorrow through Friday, Dec. 1 in Paris, the site of the 2024 Summer Olympics. During these meetings the Committee will decide which countries it will enter into a targeted dialogue with.

The IOC will hear a presentation from the Future Host Commission for the Olympic Winter Games as the last item on its agenda tomorrow.

The Committee will then hold a press conference tomorrow following the first day of meetings at 11 a.m. Mountain Time, and on Thursday at 10 a.m. Mountain Time. Both conferences will be live streamed via the IOC Media YouTube channel.

A double allocation for the 2030 and 2034 Olympic Winter Games is expected to be made in July.