Sweden has emerged as the leading contender to host the 2030 Winter Olympics in Stockholm. If chosen, it would be Sweden’s first time hosting the Olympics since the 1912 Summer Games. The Swedish Olympic Committee, led by president Hans von Uthmann, expressed confidence in Sweden’s ability to organize the Winter Games and stated that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has welcomed them to the next phase of the bidding process.
The bid is expected to utilize the ski resort of Are, located over 300 miles north of Stockholm, as the main venue. Additionally, Sweden plans to host certain events, such as bobsled, luge, and skeleton races, in neighboring Latvia.
Previously, Japan, particularly Sapporo, was considered a strong candidate for the 2030 Games. However, allegations of bribery related to the organization of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics have affected Japan’s bid. As a result, Japan’s Olympic Committee has shifted its focus to hosting the 2034 Winter Games instead.
Salt Lake City in the United States was also a contender for the 2030 Olympics. However, organizers are reportedly leaning towards a bid for the 2034 Games to avoid consecutive Games being held in the United States, considering that the 2028 Summer Olympics will take place in Los Angeles.
The next Winter Olympics are scheduled to be held in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy in 2026. The 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing had lower viewership numbers in the United States, which disappointed NBCUniversal, the broadcaster holding the U.S. rights for the Olympics until 2032.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is said to be taking climate change into account when considering the host for the 2030 Winter Olympics. The IOC is delaying the decision to assess how climate change will impact the Games in the future.
Sapporo hosted the Winter Games in 1976, Salt Lake City in 2002, and Vancouver in 2010. In light of the challenges posed by climate change, the IOC is considering a rotating schedule for future Winter Olympics, where cities that meet specific criteria, such as maintaining an average temperature at or below freezing, could host the Games every 20-30 years. Salt Lake City and Sapporo could be among the cities to benefit from this rotation.
Salt Lake City organizers believe they meet the hosting requirements through 2050, indicating their confidence in addressing climate change impacts and maintaining suitable conditions for the Winter Olympics.
Photo credit – Stockholm 2026 / Stockholm, Sweden