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Following this week’s IOC reveal that six plus interested parties are in discussion with the Future Host Commission about hosting the 2030 or future Games, media are now starting to investigate who the “six” are. One of these is Switzerland. Switzerland in talks with IOC about hosting the 2030 Winter Olympics 82 years after the last time it was held in the country, 2030 could see a Swiss ski resort host the Winter Olympic Games. According to a new report from Watson, the International Olympic Committee is currently in discussions with authorities about whether Switzerland could host the event in seven years' time. 2030 Winter Olympic Games could be coming to Switzerland “At an event on March 23 in Lausanne, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) received a delegation of Swiss officials. At the meeting, IOC directors announced that they wanted to explore the possibility of bringing the Winter Olympic Games to Switzerland in 2030.” “Not for want of trying, Switzerland has only held the Winter Olympics on two occasions, hosting the second (1928) and fifth (1948) iterations of the event in St. Moritz - recently voted one of the greatest places on earth by TIME. Further attempts to bring the games back to the country have failed, mainly because of cantonal referendums.” 2030 the first serious Olympic bid from Switzerland since Sion 2006 “The last serious effort to bring the games to Switzerland was a strongly supported bid by Canton Valais in 2006. Sadly, the Valaisanner’s bid lost in heartbreaking fashion to Turin, Italy in the final vote, with IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch famously declaring “Torino instead of Sion.”” “The alpine nation's bid for 2030 has been strongly supported by international companies in Switzerland and the skiing and athletics associations. They argue that the recent wave of sporting success from Swiss winter athletes should be rewarded by hosting the games.” “Watson noted that the alpine nation’s chances of winning the nomination are good, with only Sweden thought to be seriously pushing to be host in 2030. Out of the two other bids announced, Salt Lake City is likely to switch to bidding for 2034 because of the event's proximity to the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, while the bid from Sapporo in Japan has largely been withdrawn due to a corruption scandal.“ Credit: iamexpat.ch - 30 March 2023