Night view of Stockholm, captial city of Sweden. /CFP
The city council of Stockholm, the Swedish capital, announced their support on Tuesday for the country's latest bid to host the 2030 Winter Olympic Games.
"The City of Stockholm is optimistic about a possible Winter Olympic and Paralympic games in Sweden in 2030 and intends to make a decision on a so-called municipal guarantee," the city council said in a statement. "If the Swedish candidacy goes further in the International Olympic Committee's process to select the host country, Stockholm will be an active partner of the Swedish Olympic Committee (SOK)."
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) held an online panel meeting on Tuesday. "All national Olympic committees with a current interest in hosting the Olympic Winter Games have been offered the opportunity for their project leaders to give a virtual update," the global Olympic governing body said.
The IOC announced in October that they will decide the hosts for both the 2030 and the 2034 Winter Olympics in July 2024. In order to avoid expensive campaigns or vote-buying allegations for the bidding process, there won't be contested votes with rival candidates on the ballot anymore.
Members of the Swedish Olympic Committee and the Swedish Paralympic Commottee attend a press cofnerence on the announcement regarding a possible bid by Sweden for the 2030 Winter Olympic Games in Stockholm, Sweden, February 8, 2023. /CFP
About 100 elected IOC members, including sports officials, former athletes, royal family members and industry leaders, will approve the host presented by the organization. That was how Australia's Brisbane got the 2032 Summer Olympic Games two years ago.
Salt Lake City of Utah, the United States, is one of the favorites for the 2034 Winter Games. The city hosted it in 2002. Sweden had athletes compete in all of the 24 editions of the Winter Olympics and won a total of 176 medals including 65 golds, but they never hosted it after trying and failing eight times.
"Events such as the Winter Olympic and Paralympic games are beneficial for Stockholm and its people. They contribute to tourism, promote business, create jobs and community, and inspire young people to discover the diversity of sport. Now that we are submitting our municipal guarantee, our message is that the event will be carried out in a climate-wise, economically and socially sustainable manner," Karin Wanngård, Mayor of Stockholm, said.