Swiss sports parliament unanimously approves Olympic plans
Published: Friday, Nov 24th 2023, 21:00
Updated At: Friday, Nov 24th 2023, 21:03
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The Swiss Sports Parliament has clearly backed plans for the 2030 or 2034 Winter Olympics in Switzerland. On Friday, it unanimously decided to press ahead with these plans. Next, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will decide whether a Swiss bid will be admitted to the dialog phase.
The clear result of the vote at the 27th meeting of the Sports Parliament in Ittigen BE did not come as a surprise. Only once before - when it was about the sports history museum in Basel - has the Sports Parliament not followed Swiss Olympic's proposal.
However, just a year ago - at the last meeting of the Sports Parliament - plans for the next Swiss bid for the Olympic Games seemed utopian and unrealistic. The radical change of direction came about because the IOC is planning the future Winter Games with a new model. Sweden is also only bidding because of the new framework conditions.
Decentralized games
The feasibility study for the Winter Olympics in Switzerland from 2030 envisages decentralized games, on existing facilities, in all four language regions and largely privately financed. According to Swiss Olympic, two thirds of the Swiss are in favor of the new Olympic plans. For Urs Lehmann, President of the Ski Association and Co-President of the Swiss Olympic bid, it is clear after the 27th meeting of the Sports Parliament: "Switzerland wants much more than we thought it wanted in recent years."
At the end of March, the IOC "inspired" a Swiss delegation with the new model. This new model was the "game changer" to reach for the five colored rings again after all the disappointments of the past 75 years (since the St. Moritz Winter Games in 1948). "95 percent of the entire infrastructure for the Winter Olympics is already in place here," said former downhill world champion Lehmann.
Amherd's plea
Even before the vote on the Olympics, Sports Minister Viola Amherd was euphoric in front of the sports parliament: "Winter Games in Switzerland would be a huge boost for our country," said the Federal Councillor in her plea. Amherd supported the efforts; she had already endorsed the feasibility study: "I am convinced that the Swiss concept represents an opportunity to break new ground - with more modest games using existing facilities and infrastructure. Switzerland would be the first 'host country' in history. But decentralized games are particularly possible in Switzerland. We are so small."
What next?
What happens after the resounding "yes" from the Swiss Sports Parliament? Next week or at the beginning of December, the IOC will decide whether the Swiss project will be admitted to the dialog phase following a positive feasibility study. Sweden and France are also interested in the 2030 Winter Games. The exchange with the interested associations should be completed in the spring. The 2030 and 2034 Winter Games will be awarded jointly next summer. Salt Lake City in the USA is the clear favorite for the 2034 Games.
75 years after St. Moritz in 1948, Switzerland is making a serious attempt to bring the Games to Switzerland for the 51st time. The former status of an official candidacy (today the IOC only speaks of bids) at the IOC was achieved by 20 of these initiatives: 14 for Winter Games, six for Summer Games. "We know: There are three candidates. Now it's up to the IOC to say whether it wants us among the bidders. Everything that comes next is no longer in our hands," says Lehmann.
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