A major city typically hosts the Olympics every other year — as with Beijing in 2022 and Paris in 2024. Sometimes, multiple cities partner for the occasion, which will be the case for the 2026 Winter Games in Italian cities Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.
But never has an entire country hosted the Olympic Games. Switzerland is proposing to do just that in either 2030 or 2034, targeting a Winter Games across multiple cities.
The Swiss Olympic Committee just released a feasibility study touting the country’s ability to host the Games — and the benefits of doing so. The Winter Games could generate nearly $1.7 billion in revenue, the SOC said.
Officials said the opening ceremony would take place in Lausanne, the closing ceremony in Bern, and the competition itself over 12 venues in four regions. St. Moritz co-hosted the Winter Olympics in 1928 and 1948, but Switzerland hasn’t hosted any portion of the Games since.
By the time the International Olympic Committee concludes a slate of executive board meetings in Paris on Dec. 1, a Swiss bid could be given the greenlight to move forward.
Other potential bidders for the 2030 Winter Olympics currently include a Swedish bid from Stockholm-Åre and a French bid involving two regions. Salt Lake City, which once considered the 2030 Games, is now targeting hosting in 2034.
