Last Updated on October 6, 2024 by Allison Coe
In a shocking upset, Nice just won Olympic Gold!
In a surprise announcement by the IOC, the Nice/French Alps candidature to host the Winter Olympics in 2030 not only made the cut (whew!) …but was the only bid to make the cut, acing out both Sweden and Switzerland. It’s not official, but since there are no other countries left in the running, barring some giant shake up, in just over 6 years the Alpes-Cote d’Azur will be hosting the Winter Olympics.
The official announcement will come this summer, but in the meantime, you heard it here first!
Nice will host all Olympic Ice Skating events:
Figure Skating and Speed Skating at a new stadium to be built- Ice Hockey at Allianz Riviera Stadium
- Curling and Short Track Speed Skating at Nikaia Stadium
Nice will also produce the Closing Ceremony (maybe on the Prom?), manage the main Athletes’ Village (to be built near Allianz, which will later pivot to university housing), host the International Broadcast Center (at the MIN) and run the Main Press Center (in the Palais des Congres already under construction in the Port).
Even though Nice has ski resorts just 90 minutes away, the transportation was deemed too complicated, so all the Skiing events, Ski Jumping, and Bob/Luge/Skeleton competitions and Opening Ceremonies will be held higher in the Alps, at Corchevel and Val d’Isere among others.
Nice is no stranger to international sporting events, having just hosted some Rugby World Cup matches this last summer, and the Promenade des Anglais will be the finish line of the Tour de France next July while Paris is tied up with their Summer Olympic preparations, and Nice will also host Olympic Football/Soccer right after.
Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi has just pulled off an epic win of Olympic proportions!
Photo credits: Turin Olympics 2006, Vancouver Olympics 2010, and Sochi Olympics 2014 all by Best of Nice