Posted on 15 December 2024
It is all excitement in France, as five cluster locations in the French Alps will be the host venues for the 2030 Winter Olympics. With a vision to unite the North and South alps, the 2030 Olympic Winter Games will take place from 1 to 17 February, with the Paralympic Winter Games taking place shortly afterwards, between 1 and 10 March.
The panel confirmed votes in July 2024, all dependent on financial guarantees, setting off frenzied excitement for economic benefits, even though it is the shortest preparation time. Out of 88 valid votes, France received 84 during the bidding process, which is also dependent on delivery guarantees. IOC vice president John Coates is yet to sign the contract until both guarantees are certain.
As an existing hub for winter sports, opportunities across ski resorts are endless, and the French president, who led the delegation, has expressed full commitment to this exciting time. So, what and where is there to know about this initial sports program? While exact details are yet to be finalised, here is what we know about the master plan.
Where in the French Alps will the 2030 Olympics be held?
The Games will take place over the largest interconnected ski area, covering 600km of runs between Courchevel, Méribel and Val Thorens. Individual sports will then be separated into Haute-Savoie, Savoie, Briançon, and Nice clusters, from Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean Sea. The aim is to use existing venues rather than build new venues that won’t be used after the games. Initial sports programmes, include biathlon, bobsleigh, curling, ice hockey, luge, skating, and skiing.
Two Major Alpine Regions Will Host Skiing Events
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region: This beautiful region delivers excellence at every turn. Geneva airport is roughly two hours away; and Auvergne-rhône-alpes pushes the limits of excellence for winter sports and includes many central locations. The Haute-Savoie and Savoie regions will host the winter events, covering 26,000 square miles, with Lyon, France’s third largest city, as the administrative department.
Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur: The president of this geographical region, Renaud Muselier, has said the area will boost the Olympic experience even more and show the world reinvented and simpler winter games that are less costly for the 21st century. Promising to highlight the future of winter sports, the Alpes-Maritimes and Hautes-Alpes regions will host events.
5 Alpine Venues for all Sports
Nice: The coastal city of Nice will host all indoor ice events, except speed skating, and they will host the closing ceremony. The charming town, the second largest on the Mediterranean coast, has a planned new arena and the existing Allianz Riviera for ice hockey and Palais Nikaïa for curling. The Promenade des Anglais is the destination for the closing ceremony.
Briançon Base for Freestyle Skiing and Snowboarding
Serre Chevalier: Hosting aerial skiing and sitting near the Italian border, the skiing area and Écrins National Park cover 250 km of slopes. Including Briancon city, Le Monêtier-les-Bains, Chantemerle village in Saint-Chaffrey and Villeneuve in La Salle-les-Alpes, Serre Chevalier is home to World Cup champion ski racer Luc Alphand.
Skiing takes place from 1200 to 2800 metres and is serviced by 61 lifts. Serre Chevalier is a dual-season resort famed for summertime adventure sports and is no stranger to competitions since hosting the 2008 MTB French championships, the 2009 MTB Trial French championships and the 2010 BMX European games. Stage 18 of the 2011 Tour de France took place here.
Montgenevre: This snow venue, on the Italian border, at the top of the Col de Montgenèvre, links to the Via Lattea ski area, which has 410 km of pistes and 48 pistes. Earning fame for good snow coverage, the actual resort is nearly 200 metres below the ski area. First springing into life in 1907, the lack of party scenes at night attracts many families with kids.
Savoie Cluster for Alpine Skiing
La Plagne – This charming resort is perfect for holding an event for winter sports. Sitting in the Paradaski area and offering 425 kilometres of pistes, La Plagne breaks down into 11 smaller villages. Traditional hamlets like Montchavin and Champagny provide a charming Savoyard touch, while the Bellecôte Glacier provides reliable skiing from December to April. The Vanoise Express cable car links La Plagne to Les Arcs, further expanding skiing opportunities.
Courchevel—As a luxurious alpine resort, Courchevel is no stranger to competitive skiing and offers excellent venues for athletes. Sitting within Les Trois Vallées ski valley, the resort is divided into five villages, with Courchevel 1850 being the most exclusive. Developed in the 1940s, Courchevel was one of France’s first purpose-built ski resorts and offers access to over 150 km of pistes and 600 km of slopes in Les Trois Vallées.
Meribel—This well-known downhill skiing location is within the Three Valleys, and Méribel combines luxury with tradition. Méribel was founded in 1938 by British skier Peter Lindsay, who envisioned a resort that preserved natural beauty and traditional architecture. Thanks to strict building regulations, Méribel has retained its authentic chalet-style design while evolving into a luxurious ski destination.
Haute-Savoie Cluster
La Clusaz for traditional Cross-Country Skiing events: With 125 km of pistes and connections to the larger Massif des Aravis ski area, La Clusaz offers authentic Savoyard charm with modern amenities. La Clusaz’s history dates from the 12th century when it was a small farming community. The altitude from 1,100 to 2,600 metres ensures reliable seasonal snow conditions, but modern snowmaking cannons cover key slopes, making this resort, a dependable choice for skiers even during milder winters.
Le Grand-Bornand for Biathlon Competitions: As a favourite venue and taking its name from the river that runs through it, Le Grand-Bornard sits on the western slope of the Aravis Mountain range near Mont Blanc. Sitting within the same valley as the Petit-Bornand village, there are three distinct parts: Bouchet and Chinaillon Valleys and Le Grand-Bornand village. The main ski centre in Chinaillon, northeast of Le Grand-Bornand, and Bouchet Valley sits upstream. Nearby towns include Manigod, La Clusaz, Saint-Jean-de-Sixt, Chamonix and Annecy.
Turin in Northern Italy for long-track speed skating: The proposed venue is the Oval Lingotto, built for the 2006 Olympics and capable of holding up to 8500 spectators. Turin is in northwest Italy, at the foot of the Alps.
Paralympic Committees and Games
For the Paralympic Games and to promote adaptive winter sports for everyone, the national Olympic committee will ensure mountain resorts and venues meet French tourism and accessibility standards, so host regions will develop amenities and facilities before the winter Para sports events. Building on Paris 2024, there are ambitions for a youth education programme and mass events, like cross-country skiing races.
Sustainability and Environmental Benefits
The French Alps 2030 wants to follow Paris 2024 regarding sustainability. The sustainability strategy will reduce carbon emissions and cover planning and delivery, including transport, education, and procurement. As the first Olympic and Paralympic Games to adhere to new requirements by the international Olympic committee, they agreed to minimise direct and indirect Games-related carbon emissions, remove more carbon from the atmosphere than the Games emit, and use influence to encourage stakeholders to take climate action. Organisers say they will “promote year-round, more sustainable tourism while addressing future challenges facing mountain regions, like the effects of climate change on winter sport.”
Olympic Villages and Sports – Accommodations for Athletes
Each athlete staying in an Olympic and Paralympic Village will be no more than 30 minutes from their competition venue. Two villages will be in Nice near event venues, and three in Briançon, the highest city in France.
History of Venues Taking Centre Stage
This will be the fourth time France has hosted the Olympic Winter Games. Chamonix hosted the games in 1924, Grenoble in 1968 and Albertville in 1992. During the 1992 games, the sliding track at La Plagne, the ski jumps at Courchevel, and the Roc de Fer downhill in Méribel were used. While exact competition venues are unconfirmed, five proposed venues are not strangers to previous winter sports events. La Plagne, La Clusaz, Grand-Bornand, Courchevel and Méribel. The latter two played host to the FIS Alpine World Championships in 2023. Ice sports will happen in Nice, which hosted the World Figure Skating Championships 2012.
Salt Lake City for 2034
Having successfully submitted their bid, the excitement was joined by the announcement that Salt Lake City, the capital of Utah, will host the event in 2034. Spencer Cox, the governor of Utah, is keen to emphasise that their turn as the host city is about more than the competition but building communities. Hence, a separate village will host athletes’ relatives, and Park City will have snowboarding events.
Salt Lake previously hosted the Winter Olympics in 2002. Other winter Olympic events took place at Lake Placid in 1932 and 1980 and Squaw Valley in 1960. Meanwhile, if you can’t wait until 2030, the 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics will happen in three regions of Italy, including Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.
More About the French Alps
Buying an Apartment in the Alps: More than ever, people are investing in the ski property market. What was once a stagnant industry now offers potential overseas buyers an ideal investment. Chalets were the preferred trend some years ago, but more people now opt for apartments because of better prices, easier management, and location. Prime locations that easily match Geneva for alpine property types are making headlines for all the right reasons.
Glacier Skiing in France: Nestled in the breathtaking Alps, France boasts stunning glacier resorts, and spectacular views. Skiing on these glaciers offers unique experiences for both seasoned and beginner skiers, so this blog post explores glacier ski destinations, ideal times to visit, and tips to make the most of your adventure.
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