The Organizing Committee for the 2030 French Alps Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games has presented its preferred plan. This proposal aims to secure the event venues, pending final approval by the IOC in December.
Meeting yesterday in its Board of Directors, the COJOP presented a preferred scheme for the sites considered to host the 2030 Winter Olympic and Paralympic competitions. This plan, led by its president Edgar Grospiron, will serve as a working base for validation by the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee.
This scheme is structured around four main hubs: Haute-Savoie (Le Grand-Bornand, La Clusaz), Savoie (Courchevel, La Plagne, Val d’Isère), Briançonnais (Serre Chevalier, Montgenèvre), and Nice Côte d’Azur. The stated goal is to ensure the event’s compactness and accessibility.
For Edgar Grospiron, this represents a major step forward: “With this comprehensive preferred plan and a team ready to validate each site from a budgetary and technical standpoint, the COJOP is taking things up a notch! My goal is to make the Games spectacular, respecting budget constraints and building a lasting legacy.”
Steps Still Under Discussion
While 80% of the plan is now defined, several points remain to be finalized. The case of Val d’Isère illustrates the current challenges. The resort could host alpine skiing events. Discussions are underway to frame the necessary commitments and ensure their financial viability.
Regarding the Paralympic Games, the potential withdrawal of Méribel from hosting the snow events would necessitate finding an alternative solution. COJOP is working with the French Paralympic Sports Committee and the International Paralympic Committee to anticipate this possibility. The objective remains to ensure site accessibility and the proper organization of competitions.
Another open case is the speed skating oval. A call for proposals has been launched to identify the host city for this discipline. The choice must meet logistical and budgetary criteria consistent with the rest of the project.
The Organization Is Active, Decisions to Come
Beyond site selection, the COJOP is accelerating its implementation. A management committee will be in place by September. It will allow progress on feasibility studies and the signing of necessary agreements with local authorities.
An overall budget is being developed. It will be presented in the fall. Other projects are underway: defining the Games’ brand, creating the official emblem, and preparing the handover of the Olympic and Paralympic flags, planned during the closing ceremonies of Milan-Cortina 2026.
Each selected site will be the subject of an agreement specifying everyone’s roles. COJOP will be responsible for the interior of the competition sites. Local authorities will intervene in the public domain. This framework will secure the project’s implementation, especially from a technical and financial viewpoint.
The coming months will be decisive. COJOP now needs to finalize the last decisions, contractually bind commitments, and present a solid dossier to the IOC. The goal is to follow the planned schedule, ensuring each step is collectively validated.
