France Joins Race To Host 2030 Winter Olympics With Official Bid

The Paris Olympics are still eight months away, but France is already thinking about its next big move: bringing a Winter Games to the country.

France has officially unveiled its bid to host the 2030 Olympics, telling the International Olympic Committee it would hold events in the French Alps and on the French Riviera. Organizers believe a French Winter Olympics could stay under the $1.61 billion projected budget of the 2026 Milano-Cortina Games.

Switzerland recently laid out its vision for a Winter Olympics — potentially in 2030 — which the Swiss Olympic Committee projects could bring in $1.6 billion in revenue. Switzerland would host the Winter Games across multiple cities.

Sweden has also shown interest in hosting the 2030 Games and has even been seen as a frontrunner at times. Salt Lake City has shifted its focus to trying to host the 2034 Winter Olympics, but officials say the city could be available for 2030, if necessary. 

The IOC is planning to announce the hosts of both the 2030 and 2034 Olympics at its next major meeting in 2024.

Other bids that have since been withdrawn or shelved for the time being include those from Vancouver and Sapporo.