FRANCE – There’s been a lot of talk surrounding France and the Olympics as of late, and there’s a good reason for it. They’re literally hosting the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris right now… But, in just six short years, the Olympics will be returning to the European country for their fourth Winter Olympics and first since 1992. In the same event that confirmed Utah as the host for the 2034 Winter Olympics, the French Alps received their confirmation for the 2030 Winter Olympics.
The 2030 French Alps Winter Olympics will be split into four zones, Haute Savoie, Savoie, Briançon, and Nice, to take advantage of as many existing venues as possible. Five proposed Olympic villages will keep all athletes within 30 minutes of their competition venue, while 93% of the proposed venues already exist or will be temporary.
The Haute Savoie Zone will host the cross-country skiing at La Clusaz and the biathlon at Le Grand Bornand, in addition to an Olympic Village. The Savoie Zone will host alpine skiing and nordic combined at Courchevel and Méribel, ski jumping at Courchevel, sliding sports at La Plage, and two villages in Bozel and La Plagne. Meanwhile, freestyle skiing and snowboarding will be hosted in the Briançon Zone at Serre Chevalier and Montgenèvre, with aa village in Briançon.
Lastly, most of the ice related events, including hockey, figure skating, short track speed skating, and curling, in addition to the International Broadcast Center, Main Press Center, and Closing Ceremony, will be hosted in the Nice Zone. While yet to be determined where, speed skating will be hosted outside of France to avoid building a new venue. The Opening Ceremony’s venue is yet to be decided.
The next winter Olympics will be hosted in Milano Cortina in 2026, followed by the French Alps in 2030, and Utah in 2034. The next summer Olympics, in 2028, will take place in Los Angeles, followed by Brisbane, Australia in 2032.
