Revealed: Who is poised to host the 2030 and 2034 Winter Olympics?

Salt Lake City, having weathered the storm of a bribery scandal that threw plans for the 2002 Winter Games into disarray, now has a chance at redemption. 

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board confirmed on Wednesday that it has set its sights on Salt Lake as the preferred choice to host the 2034 Winter Olympics, while also identifying the French Alps region as the top candidate for the 2030 Winter Games.

In line with the revised procedures for choosing Olympic host cities, the IOC will engage in a period of "targeted dialogue" with the leaders of these two proposals. This dedicated phase allows IOC executives to work closely with the bid organizers to streamline their plans, identify potential cost savings, and address any concerns or challenges that may arise. The ultimate goal is to present thoroughly refined and well-prepared bids to the IOC's main session in July, which is scheduled to take place in Paris.

Salt Lake City found itself in a solitary position in the race to bring the Winter Games back to Utah for the 2034 edition, while the French Alps emerged as the only candidate to host the 2030 Games. Although there remains a small possibility of unforeseen circumstances derailing these bids before the final IOC vote, the fact that they have advanced to the "targeted dialogue" phase suggests a strong likelihood of selection next summer. 

This development serves as yet another illustration of the modern approach to selecting Olympic hosts. In an effort to curb exorbitant costs associated with competitive bidding and to address public concerns regarding bid-rigging scandals, the IOC implemented significant changes to its host city selection procedures.

These reforms included prohibiting IOC voters from visiting bid candidates, among other campaign reforms. As a result, the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics were the last to undergo a traditional contested vote in 2019. By adopting this new approach, the IOC aims to promote transparency, fairness and cost-efficiency in the process of selecting future hosts for the Games.

The IOC emphasized that the utilization of existing venues from the 2002 Games played a significant role in the decision to proceed with the Salt Lake City bid. The presence of these established facilities offers several advantages, including cost savings, reduced construction time and a proven track record of successful Olympic events. 

Meanwhile, France, already set to host the Summer Olympics in 2024, boasts a rich history as a host nation for the Winter Games. The country has successfully organized the event on three occasions: Chamonix in 1924, Grenoble in 1968 and Albertville in 1992. This wealth of experience positions it as a compelling choice to once again showcase its ability to deliver a spectacular tournament.

"What really stood out about the French Alps and Salt Lake City-Utah projects was their vision for the athlete experience, their alignment with regional and national socioeconomic development plans, and their very strong support from the public and from all levels of government," explained Karl Stoss, head of the IOC's future host commission, in a statement.

"The commission felt strongly that the other interested parties would benefit from more time to optimize the athlete experience of their future Games, and to continue to build on their burgeoning foundations of public and political support."