IOC executives approve Salt Lake City Winter Games bid in final step before July elections

Olympic rings in in front of the International Olympic Committee Building in Lausanne, Switzerland. Photo: International Luge Federation // Facebook

This is the last milestone both bids must pass through before the IOC Executive Board's final vote in July

LAUSANNE, Switzerland — The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board approved bids from the French Alps and Salt Lake City for the 2030 and 2034 Winter Games at its meeting today, according to a report from GamesBids.com.

The two bids must still undergo a ratification vote from the full IOC. This vote, which will take place on July 24 in Lausanne, Switzerland during the Summer Games Opening Ceremony in Paris, is the final step that will guarantee the host cities of the 2030 and 2034 Winter Games.

However, gaining approval from the IOC Executive Board is a positive indication that both Salt Lake City and the French Alps could get final approval from the full IOC next month.

“Passing this final checkpoint ahead of the final Session vote all but assures the two bids will be named hosts as members don’t typically vote against Executive Boards’ decisions,” reported GamesBids.com

The two candidates will deliver virtual presentations to IOC members within the next month, and final presentations and elections will take place at the end of July.

Salt Lake City’s bid has received all necessary government approvals and has 79% public support, according to data from a Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics poll released yesterday.

Due to the dissolution of France’s National Assembly, the French have not yet delivered a state guarantee to the IOC, which must be done before the French Alps can officially be declared a Host City. This state guarantee will likely be made after France’s national election later this summer.