IOC’s Winter Olympics Favorites: France 2030, Salt Lake City 2034

The International Olympic Committee has taken a crucial step toward determining the hosts of two future Winter Games.

The French Alps have been selected as the preferred bidder for the 2030 Olympics, while Salt Lake City, Utah has been granted the same status for the 2034 Games. 

The IOC executive board invited Olympic committees from France and the U.S. to enter “targeted dialogue” toward hosting the respective games. A final decision for 2030 and 2034 will be made at the next IOC session in July ahead of the Paris Olympics.

The awarding of a preferred bidder status began in 2021 with the selection of Brisbane for the 2032 Summer Games — an effort to alleviate the extravagant and expensive bidding process for interested cities and regions.

French organizers have said they plan to stay under the $1.61 billion projected budget of the 2026 Milano-Cortina Games. Salt Lake City, the host of the 2002 Olympics, had originally expressed interest in hosting another edition in 2030 but eventually shifted its focus to 2034.

Switzerland, 15 Years Out?

The IOC also invited Switzerland — another hopeful bidder this cycle — to enter into “privileged dialogue” about hosting the 2038 Winter Olympics.

Swiss organizers will be asked to provide more information on things like venues and funding during a discussion period that could last through 2027 or end sooner if the project is ready.

A bid from Sweden was the only other remaining challenger to the French, U.S., and Swiss bids.