Speed Skating Events to Be Hosted Outside France for 2030 Winter Olympics
The speed skating competitions at the 2030 Winter Olympics will be held outside the host country of France, it has been officially confirmed.
The Games, branded as French Alps 2030, will primarily take place across the south-east region of France, featuring venue clusters in Nice, Briançon, Savoie, and Haut-Savoie.
However, the speed skating events will be conducted in existing facilities located either in Turin, northern Italy, or Heerenveen in the Netherlands.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Games organisers have expressed a preference against constructing new venues without assured long-term use within the host region.
Edgar Grospiron, president of the French Alps 2030 organising committee, stated that hosting speed skating outside France was a condition agreed upon with the IOC when France was awarded the Games.
"This decision has already been taken, so the organising committee has to go on what has already been decided," he said during a media conference in Milan on Saturday, the day before the 2026 hosts officially handed over responsibility for the Games.
"This is so that the Games in the French Alps can be as we want them to be.
"For the first time we will have a Games with a discipline in another European country. This will be new; we will see if other Games do it."
Hosting events outside the host city or region is not unprecedented in Olympic history. For example, at Paris 2024, surfing competitions are scheduled to take place on the Pacific island of Tahiti, approximately 10,000 miles from mainland France.
However, Tahiti is an overseas territory of France, whereas the 2030 speed skating events will be held in a separate sovereign nation.
Event Schedule and Venue Decisions Progressing
Grospiron revealed that about 15% of the sports and venues for the 2030 Games remain undecided, with final details expected to be confirmed by June of this year.
He confirmed that figure skating, which currently lacks a confirmed venue, will be hosted in Nice, alongside curling and ice hockey events.
Grospiron also indicated that decisions regarding the inclusion of new sports and potential removal of existing events will be made in due course.
The status of Nordic combined—the only event at Milan-Cortina 2026 without a women's competition—has yet to be finalized.
Ski mountaineering, which debuted as an Olympic sport in 2026, has not yet been confirmed as a medal event for the French Alps Games.
"New sports are at the heart of our concerns, this will need to be broached to then decide what our venue plan is like and has to be validated by June by the IOC," Grospiron said.
"We will not do this alone; we will do this hand in hand with federations and venues.
"For Nordic combined, this is at the helm of the IOC. We will follow the recommendations of the IOC. We are there to listen, to help us finalise our venue plan."
There have been reports of internal conflicts within the 2030 organising committee, including the alleged departure of director general Cyril Linette due to disagreements with Grospiron, as well as budget reductions.
Grospiron acknowledged the challenges, stating they have "little time, little money" but remain confident in delivering a successful Games.
"We talk every day about wanting to make these Games a success," he said. "The organising committee needs serenity, continuity, then we will show what our teams can do. We are very proud of the work we have been able to do.
"We know we have very little time, little money. But we can deliver a Games that will honour our vision and ambition."
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