2026 Winter Olympics
Appearance
The 2026 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XXVI Olympic Winter Games, is a sports event to be organized in a city designated by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The host city will be selected at the 132nd IOC Session in 2019.
Potential bids
Europe
- The President of the autonomous province of Trentino, Italy, announced the intention of the city of Trento to bid for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games after meetings with president of the Italian Olympic Committee.
- The region recently hosted the 2013 Winter Universiade.
- A public debate is promoted by a citizens' committee in the Italian region of Mont Blanc, in order to promote Aosta as the host the XXV Winter Olympics Games or a subsequent edition. The idea is to promote the games starting from the citizens in a bottom-up process, in order to involve all stakeholders. The Aosta Valley region's economy is mainly based on winter sports. Starting from 70's the main winter resorts hosted world events: Courmayeur hosted a round of the 1977 Alpine Skiing World Cup, Cervinia a round of the 1978 Alpine Skiing World Cup and bobsleigh's FIBT World Championships 1971, Cogne a round of the 1984–85 FIS Cross-Country World Cup and Fénis hosted in the 1986 FIL World Luge Natural Track Championships. In 1991 the city made a bid for the 1998 Winter Olympics, so a 2026 bid would be the city's second attempt. In 1993 Aosta hosted the first edition of the winter European Youth Olympic Festival and in 2010 it hosted the first edition of the 2010 Winter Military World Games. Considering the new rules of the IOC some structures of Turin that hosted the 2006 Winter Games are less than 100 km away and so they could be used as part of a new bid for the alpine city.
- The mayor of Altenberg, Thomas Kirsten, announced in November 2013 after the Bavarians rejected a Munich bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics. Dresden is considered as host city due to its international reputation, airport and motorway infrastructure. Therefore it could serve as ideal location for an Olympic Village and the Main Press Center. Renowned venues such as Klingenthal, Oberwiesenthal, Altenberg, Zittau and Weißwasser could be used, as well as partnering venues in the Czech Republic for Alpine events,[3] probably near Liberec as there are no suitable mountains near Dresden.
- Barcelona (where the 1992 Summer Olympics had been held) had waged a bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics, but, according to mayor Xavier Trias, was not considered ready yet. Instead, one "must concentrate its efforts and commitment to work to reach the Olympic target by 2026".[4]
- On June 30, 2014 Lviv decided to withdraw from 2022 Winter Olympics bid and will bid for 2026 Winter Olympics.[5]
- Sweden withdrew from the 2022 bid, but the Swedish NOC president did in December 2014 claim that Sweden could apply again, considering that the IOC want to reduce cost for organisers, which was the problem with the 2022 bid.[6]
- The Swiss city of Sion is rumoured to be interested in bidding for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games. Sion previously bid for the games in 1976, 2002 and 2006. The Swiss city of Lausanne is currently a candidate for the 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games.[7]
- A joint Norway-Sweden bid was proposed by a Norwegian College of Elite Sport top official Thorleif Gunhildrud. It was suggested to combine Trondheim and Åre which are about 100 miles apart, but it was said there had been no talks with Swedish officials so far. The Olympic Charter allows for the possibility of a Winter Olympics shared by two countries.[8]
North America
- Quebec City initially expressed interest in bidding. In September 2011, Quebec City mayor Régis Labeaume had ruled out bidding for 2022. However, the city may bid for another Winter Games in the future.[9] Then-IOC President Jacques Rogge stated that he believes that the 2026 Winter Olympics would be a realistic option for the city to organize the games.[10] Quebec has a problem finding a mountain for the downhill event, as the planned location Le Massif was not approved.[11]
- In December 2012, Salt Lake City, Utah, host of the 2002 Winter Olympics, announced its intention to bid to become the U.S. nomination for the games.[12] This came on the heels of the USOC announcing that it would not support a bid for the 2022 Olympics, but would support a 2024 or 2026 bid.[13] Other cities that are considering bids include
- Denver originally won the hosting rights for the 1976 Winter Olympics, but relinquished the games after voters rejected the budget in a 1972 referendum.[18][19] Anchorage lost bids to host the 1992 Winter Olympics and the 1994 Winter Olympics. A 23-member exploratory committee, which includes four Alaskan Olympians, met for the first time to delve into the finances and mechanics of pursuing the 2026 Winter Olympics.[16][20][21] Boston was actively considering a bid for the 2026 Winter Games but this campaign was dropped when Boston was named the candidate city from the United States by the U.S.O.C. for the 2024 Summer Games.[22]
South America
- In October 2014 the Argentine Olympic Committee (COA) revealed the plan to use the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics, to be held in Buenos Aires, as the launchpad for a bid in the near future. The Committee identified Argentina's south-eastern region of Patagonia, which comprises the southern section of the Andes mountains, as a possible location to host the Winter Games. In 2010 it was suggested that Ushuaia would be the main option for a bid.[24]
Santiago, Chile
- After an interview with then International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge during the 2012 Olympic Games in London discussions were started about how to organize Winter Olympics in the southern hemisphere for the first time. During the interview conditions in the Andes were highlighted as very suitable to stage snow sports events but a lack of existing venues for the ice sport events was identified as well.[25]
Asia
- Representatives from Sapporo in Japan, host of the 1972 Winter Games, told that the city is considering a bid for the 2026 or 2030 Winter Olympics.
Broadcasting
References
- ^ http://www.agi.it/venezia/notizie/201403171842-spr-rve1009-olimpiadi_trento_si_candida_per_ospitare_giochi_invernali_2026
- ^ http://www.meteoweb.eu/2015/01/valle-daosta-lancia-dibattito-sulle-eco-olimpiadi-invernali-foto/375492/
- ^ "Olympische Winterspiele – eine erste Skizze". Freie Wähler Dresden. October 2013. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
- ^ "Barcelona won't bid for 2022 Winter Games, will wait for 2026". The Washington Post. 25 October 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
- ^ "Lviv drops 2022 bid, targets 2026 Games: IOC". Reuters News Agency. 30 June 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
- ^ [Nytt beslut öppnar för OS i Sverige http://www.svt.se/sport/vintersport/nytt-beslut-oppnar-for-os-i-sverige] (in Swedish)
- ^ http://www.insidethegames.biz/olympics/winter-olympics/1024499-sion-to-bid-for-2026-winter-olympic-games
- ^ "Pour 2026, les Scandinaves veulent jouer groupés". francjeux.com. 3 November 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
- ^ "No 2022 Winter Bid From Quebec City". GamesBids.com. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
- ^ IOC's Jacques Rogge encourages Olympic bids for Quebec City, Toronto
- ^ It’s looking downhill for Quebec’s Olympic bid
- ^ "Utah to bid for 2026 Winter Olympics". ESPN.com. 3 December 2012. Retrieved 4 February 2013.
- ^ "U.S. Olympic Committee Pulls Out of Bidding for 2022 Games Before It Begins". nytimes.com. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
- ^ Walsh, Lawrence (3 February 2013). "Lake Tahoe resorts investing millions now in hopes of 2026 Winter Olympics bid". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 4 February 2013.
- ^ Whiteside, Kelly (18 December 2012). "USOC to receive report on potential bids for Games". USA Today. Retrieved 4 February 2013.
- ^ a b "Anchorage considers bid for 2026 Winter Olympics". Associated Press. June 25, 2013.
- ^ "2026 Winter Olympic Bid". Lake Placid Names. April 2, 2016.
- ^ "Colorado only state ever to turn down Olympics". Denver.rockymountainnews.com. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
- ^ "The Games that got away – 2002 Winter Olympics coverage". Deseretnews.com. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
- ^ Anchorage Forms Committee To Study 2026 Winter Olympic Bid
- ^ Anchorage Eyes 2026; Mersin Med Games Head to Finish
- ^ "Official Statement by Boston 2026 on the Selection of Boston by the USOC as the Summer Olympic Candidate City for 2024". Boston Winter Olympics 2026. 9 January 2015.
- ^ http://www.insidethegames.biz/olympics/1023030-patagonia-put-forward-as-potential-winter-olympic-bid-by-argentina
- ^ http://www.latercera.com/contenido/732_279917_9.shtml
- ^ "Chile reflota idea de traer los Juegos Olímpicos de Invierno". latercera.com. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
- ^ http://www.aroundtherings.com/site/A__49034/Title__Boston-2024-On-Track-Buenos-Aires-YOG-Revelation----On-the-Scene/292/Articles
- ^ "IOC awards Olympic Games broadcast rights to NBCUniversal through to 2032". Olympic.org. 2014-05-07. Retrieved 7 May 2014.