Stockholm/Åre 2030

[iceman530]

Needs its own thread now.  Strong candidate for night in shining armor.  Not a perfect bid, but in line with reformed Olympics bids.  Super far away between Stockholm and Are, but given we are gravitating away from "hubs" as evidenced by the Italian and Chinese bids, this is feasible.  It would be the biggest gap yet, but thats not even the biggest challenge.  Biggest challenge is getting city council and public support.  As always, if that doesnt happen, its sunk.  Is there any hope for the Swedes deciding on a different outcome this time?  If they do, I would strongly assess a Stockholm/Are 2030 and SLC 2034 double award.  

 

Article also notes that July 2024 seems to be the "No Later Than" deadline the IOC is giving itself.  That lines up with what a lot of people were assessing on here.  

Sweden emerges as sudden front-runner to host 2030 Olympics (gazettetimes.com)

Interesting blurb from the article:  The IOC has pointed Swedish officials to a July 2024 deadline — at its members’ meeting on the eve of the Paris Olympics — to find a 2030 Winter Games host. At just 5-1/2 years before the opening ceremony, it would be the latest pick of a games host for any modern Olympics.

Edited February 16, 2023 by Sir Rols

[iceman530]

Just saw I typed it night in shining armor instead of knight........ohhhh to make posts without coffee, lol.

[Sigh]

Response in Sweden, outside the SOK, has been tepid at best.

Reaction from the leader of the Social Democrats, the biggest party, to news of SOK making another attempt: "Sigh"

Reaction from municipal politician from the moderate (conservative) party was that he was all for it as long as it didn't risk any taxpayer money.

Other municipal politician from other, smaller party: Don't spend money on a new bid. The 2026 bid, take it or leave it.

The Stockholm Chamber of Commerce wants to at least hold the door open. The immediate response from a leading conservative, businessfriendly think-tank: Slam the door shut and throw away the key.

[iceman530]

Predictable rays of sunshine those Swedes :p  .  It would be a miracle to get Sweden on board with this honestly

[Sir Rols]

 

8 hours ago, AustralianFan said:

Latvia forms working group to consider joining Sweden on 2030 Winter Olympics bid

10 March 2023

Latvia has formed a research working group to examine the possibility of working with Sweden on a bid for the 2030 Winter Olympics and Paralympics.

This is set to feature representatives from the Latvian Olympic Committee (LOK), Ministries and participating local Governments, and follows an approach from the Swedish Olympic Committee (SOK).

A Stockholm-Åre bid for the 2026 edition included sliding events in the Latvian resort of Sigulda, but was beaten by the proposal from Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo in Italy.

Other interested parties for 2030 are facing various issues which has led to the awarding process being delayed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and the Swedish Olympic Committee (SOK) last month revived its interest by launching a feasibility study.

During a meeting between Swedish and Latvian officials at the Ministry of Education and Science, the possibility of using indoor venues in Riga in addition to the bobsleigh, luge and skeleton track in Siguda was discussed.

SOK officials, including former secretary general Gunilla Lindberg, a member of the IOC's Future Host Commission for the Olympic Winter Games, presented the application process for hosting the multi-sport event.

The 2030 edition of the Games is set to be the first awarded under the IOC's new bidding process in which the Future Host Commission identifies and proposes its preferred candidate from interested parties to the Executive Board, instead of a traditional bidding race.

Minister of Education and Science Anda Čakša said that the experience of the 2026 bid could prove valuable if Latvia joins with Sweden again.

"Although five years ago a positive final result was not achieved, the process of preparing the application provided valuable experience and currently allows us to look more broadly at the current situation and Latvia's possible involvement in the Olympic Games as an organiser, using not only our active bobsleigh and the luge track in Sigulda," Čakša said.

Latvia has been among the countries most vocal in its opposition to Russian and Belarusian participation in international sport, including the IOC's move to "explore a pathway" for their return as neutrals.

It has threatened to boycott Paris 2024 if athletes from both countries are present, and has stopped state funding for five athletes who participated in events with Russian and Belarusian competitors.

Sapporo in Japan had been viewed as the frontrunner for the 2030 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, but its bid was "paused" following growing public anger at the Tokyo 2020 bribery scandal.

Salt Lake City in the United States hopes to stage the Games in 2030 or 2034, but its preference is for the latter edition to avoid a clash with Los Angeles 2028 sponsorships.

Vancouver in Canada's proposal has been hampered by a lack of support from the Government of British Columbia and a mooted Swiss, Italian and French bid failed to materialise because of Chamonix's lack of interest.

The IOC had hoped to finalise a host for the 2030 Winter Games at this year's IOC Session in Mumbai, but delayed this timeline to enable further consultation with interested parties.

A double award for the 2030 and 2034 editions has been considered by the IOC.

Credit: Latvia forms working group to consider joining Sweden on 2030 Winter Olympics bid - 10 March 2023 - ITG

 

8 hours ago, AustralianFan said:

For the 2030 Winter Games, Sweden can pull off the heist

“The IOC has trimmed the blind spots and shaken up the timetable, but the Olympic bids are still full of surprises. No one will complain about it.”

“For the 2030 Winter Games, the scenario seemed written in advance, with the Japanese of Sapporo as favorites and the Americans of Salt Lake City – promised to win the 2034 edition – as a backup option.”

“But everything changed with the corruption scandal linked to the Tokyo 2020 Games. The Sapporo 2030 file did not resist it. Put on hold, it may never see the light again.”

“Result: a surprise candidate appears today in the first position of the race. And even, come on, as the favorite of the prognosis. Still absent from the race at the beginning of the year, Sweden has presented itself since last week as a credible option. To everyone’s surprise, starting with themselves.”

“Hans von Uthmann, member of the executive board of the Swedish Olympic Committee (SOK), recognized it in an interview with the agency AP: the failure of the candidature of Stockholm-Are in the race to the Winter Games 2026, beaten by the Italians of Milan-Cortina d’ Ampezzo, had left marks still too deep to consider a new attempt. But a meeting of Swedish Olympic leaders at the IOC headquarters in mid-January changed that.”

Credit: For the 2030 Winter Games, Sweden can pull off the heist - Francs-Jeux - 16 Feb 2023

 

8 hours ago, AustralianFan said:

Sweden emerges as sudden front-runner in troubled search 2030 Olympics

Sweden emerging as the front-runner in a troubled search for a 2030 Olympics host is as much a surprise in Stockholm as elsewhere.

The year started with Sweden not on the radar of a Winter Games race where longtime favourite Sapporo faded during a criminal investigation of alleged bribery linked to the recent Tokyo Olympics.

Salt Lake City is targeting 2034.

In Sweden, memories are also fresh of a bruising loss for Stockholm-Are against Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo in the 2026 Olympics vote the Nordic country's eighth beaten candidate for the Winter Games.

The picture changed when Swedish officials met last month in Switzerland with International Olympic Committee leaders who faced uncertainty and time running out to find a 2030 host.

We had a meeting in Lausanne in mid-January after the holidays, Swedish Olympic official Hans von Uthmann told The Associated Press on Thursday.

On our journey back we realised, Hey, there really is an opening.'

Sweden emerges as sudden front-runner in troubled search 2030 Olympics - 16 Feb 2023 - business-standard.com

 

8 hours ago, AustralianFan said:

Latvia and Sweden considering joint Winter Olympic bid

The Latvian and Swedish Olympic Committees discussed Latvia's potential involvement in Sweden's candidacy for the 2030 Winter Olympic Games on Thursday, the Latvian Olympic Committee (LOK) has confirmed to Latvian Radio.

Latvia previously participated in Sweden's bid to host the 2026 Winter Olympic Games, which meant that all competitions in bobsleigh, luge and skeleton would be held on the Sigulda track. That time around though, Sweden lost out to Italy in the final decision.

Sweden is mulling another effort with a bid for the 2030 gaes, and Latvia could again be on board. This time around the Sigulda track would host the sliding events, but the Latvian side wants to go a step further with unofficial information suggesting Latvia would like to host at least part of the ice hockey tournament, plus potentially curling and short track skating. 

For now all this is only at the stage of good intentions, and working groups will be created that will analyze the situation and possibilities. However, Latvia's recent success in co-hosting the ice hockey World Championship in trying circumstances will stand it in good stead.

Minister of Education and Science Anda Čakša said: "Although five years ago a positive final result was not achieved, the process of preparing the application provided valuable experience and currently allows us to look more broadly at the current situation and Latvia's possible involvement in the Olympic Games as an organizer, using not only our bobsleigh and luge track in Sigulda."

Credit: Latvia and Sweden considering joint Winter Olympic bid - 10 March 2023 - eng.lsv.lv

 

[Sir Rols]

 

2 hours ago, AustralianFan said:

I don’t know much about this Siguldo Sliding Centre in Latvia so dug this about it.

International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation

 

Relative position to Stockholm, on googlemaps.  Riga, the capital of Latvia is by the sea and roughly between Sigulda and Stockholm.

 

2 hours ago, AustralianFan said:

…. and just adding the bio info about the Siguldo Sliding Centre in Latvia:

 

IBSF website

 

1 hour ago, AustralianFan said:

As previously reported by Gamesbids.com and Sportspromedia.com in February this year, a feasibility study for the 2030 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games will be conducted by the Swedish Olympic amd Paralympic Committee.  They said then that they have all the arenas to stage the largest Winter Games, including the Sigulda Sliding Centre in Latvia (and a sattelite athletes village presumably?).

This was the 2026 bid logo as we know:

 

1 hour ago, AustralianFan said:

So perhpas not just Sigulda, but others as well ………

 

Other Indoor Venues In Latvia may be used in 2030 besides Sigulda Sliding Centre ?

“Latvia has formed a research working group to examine the possibility of working with Sweden on a bid for the 2030 Winter Olympics and Paralympics.”

“This is set to feature representatives from the Latvian Olympic Committee (LOK), Ministries and participating local Governments, and follows an approach from the Swedish Olympic Committee (SOK).”

During a meeting between Swedish and Latvian officials at the Ministry of Education and Science, the possibility of using indoor venues in Riga in addition to the bobsleigh, luge and skeleton track in Siguda was discussed.

SOK officials, including former secretary general Gunilla Lindberg, a member of the IOC's Future Host Commission for the Olympic Winter Games, presented the application process for hosting the multi-sport event.

Credit: Latvia forms working group to consider joining Sweden on 2030 Winter Olympics bid - 10 March 2023 - ITG

 

[Sir Rols]

 

6 hours ago, baron-pierreIV said:

So, starting a new thread.  (I don't want the other one started by someone on my IGNORE list.)   

So, my thoughts are -- it's 7 years away, if Putin doesn't die soon and the Russians are still pariahs in the 2024 and 2026 Games -- and Latvia joins up as a 2030 co-host, the hijo de Puta Vladimir will invade Latvia 2 months before the 2030 Games (or sooner) just to poke the IOC and the West in the eye!  So: (1) NATO has to hasten Sweden's membership ASAP; and (2) I don't think Latvia should partner with any Swedish bid.  There's a DESPERATE Russian mafioso next door!! 

 

6 hours ago, StefanMUC said:

It´s this kind of fear that keeps bullies (that’s what Putin basically is) in a position of power.

 

5 hours ago, baron-pierreIV said:

Yes and no.  But the world has to be prepared for such an eventuality.  Will the world plunge into a nuclear WW3 over a Winter Games?  Wouldn't it be the supreme irony in that an organization that claims to promote peace by sport is actually the one to precipitate a global conflict?  

What's the age-old saying?  Discretion is the better part of valor.  
Or maybe by then, Russian athletes might again be allowed to compete under a neutral flag?  That might be the distasteful compromise.  

 

3 hours ago, StefanMUC said:

Preparing for eventualities does not mean suicide for fear of death (and nothing else it would be if “we” caved under Russian threats).

 

[Sir Rols]

 

2 hours ago, AustralianFan said:

 

 

 

@baron-pierreIV @StefanMUC

If the spirit is willing for a combined effort by Sweden and Latvia for 2030 to explore a 2030 bid, then it should proceed, go for it.

I agree that Sweden and Latvia shouldn’t be intimidated by the presence of Putin nearby, and I hope they’re not.  If they’re discussing a bid, then that’s a good thing.

 

 

[AustralianFan]

Sweden and Latvia Reunite for 2030

Aint love grand.  Great news they’re back together.

Added news is that Latvia are also discussing using some of their indoor venues in the bid.

So, yes, there is willingness prpgress this on both sides.

Would it then be “Stockholm-Riga 2030” ? 

This wll also be, in 2030, the first New Norm process for the Winter Games.

 

[baron-pierreIV]

So there will be at least THREE (3) OVs; two Broadcast centers.  Now, what indoor events could Stockholm possibly yield to Riga?  I think I could only see Long-track Speed-skating; and/r Curling.  I imagine Stockholm will want to keep Figure Skating and at least men's Ice Hockey.  Depending on how strong Sweden or Latvia can field Women's Ice Hockey and/or Curling teams, those can be negotiated with Riga.  Or Riga can get more of the Paralympic events.  

[stryker]

One word. Referendum. Any thinking this bid would somehow get by in Sweden without one when skepticism in the IOC is still high is just crazy. Even if it did get through, it would be absolute lunacy to use anything in Latvia other than the sliding track. Sweden has more than enough indoor sports arenas for a WOGs. Their 2026 bid proved that. Stop the charade, cut the check, and give this to SLC already.

[AustralianFan]

7 hours ago, baron-pierreIV said:

So there will be at least THREE (3) OVs; two Broadcast centers.  Now, what indoor events could Stockholm possibly yield to Riga?  I think I could only see Long-track Speed-skating; and/r Curling.  I imagine Stockholm will want to keep Figure Skating and at least men's Ice Hockey.  Depending on how strong Sweden or Latvia can field Women's Ice Hockey and/or Curling teams, those can be negotiated with Riga.  Or Riga can get more of the Paralympic events.  

Just checked out some of Latvia’s indoor arenas.

Arena Riga

• capacity:   14,500
• opened 2006
• hosted 2006 Ice Hockey World Championships
• hosted 2021 Ice Hockey World Championships on it’s own after Belarus was removed as a co-host

 

Olympic Sports Centre   (Riga)

• capacity:   6,000
• opened 2005, renovated 2021
• constructed for 2006 Ice Hockey World Championships
• hosted 2021 Ice Hockey World Championships on it’s own after Belarus was removed as a co-host

 

 

Skonto Hall   (Riga)

(aka Skonto Arena)

• capacity:   2,000  (8,000 standing)
• renovated for 2006 Ice Hockey World Championships
• hosted 2003 Eurovision Song Contest
• includes an indoor football arena with an artificial surface
• opened 1996, renovated 2006 and 2010

Zemgale Olympic Sports Hall   (Jelgava)

• capacity:   3,000
• opened 2010

 

Liepaja Olympic Center Arena    (Liepaja)

• capacity:   2,542
• opened 2008
• 

 

Volvo Sports Center    (Riga)

• capacity:   2,500
• opened 2005

 

Daugavpils Ice Arena     (Daugavpils)

• capacity:   1,984
• opened 1999

 

There are several other indoor venues of a similar size around Latvia:  

• Tukums Ice Hall - capacity 1,520
• Kurbads Ice Hall - 1,500
• Vidzeme Olympic Centre Universal hall - 1,500
• Inbox.lv Ice Hall - 1,000

Couldn’t find an indoor speed skating oval but clearly Latvia is flush with ice hockey venues large and small, some of the smaller ones which could be used as training venues .  

Arena Riga and Olympic Sports Center would appear to be suitable for both Figure Skating, Short Track Speed Skating and Ice Hockey Finals.

 

[AustralianFan]

@StefanMUC @cfm Jeremie @stryker @Quaker2001 @iceman530 @SportLightning @BigVic @northman @fusilli  @Victorian  @RooBlu  @2018  @fatixxx  @Booville  @yoshi  @jawnbc  @George_D  

9 hours ago, AustralianFan said:

Sweden and Latvia Reunite for 2030

Aint love grand.  Great news they’re back together.

Added news is that Latvia are also discussing using some of their indoor venues in the bid.

So, yes, there is willingness prpgress this on both sides.

Would it then be “Stockholm-Riga 2030” ? 

This wll also be, in 2030, the first New Norm process for the Winter Games.

 

 

[AustralianFan]

Wil it be Stockholm Riga 2030  or  Sweden Latvia 2030  ?

So what might a shared Olympic/Paralympic venue plan look like between these two countries?

What other sports or preliminary rounds at least, would Stockholm be willing to give up to Latvia?

Reviewing the original unsuccessful 2026 Stockholm-Are bid, here are some speculations:

• 2026:  Opening Ceremony:  Friends Arena (retractable roof).  Retain for 2030
• 2026:  Closing Ceremony:   multiple locations across the four venue cluster. In 2030, include Riga in the multiple locations.
• 2026:  Stockholm:  ice hockey, curling, speed skating, figure skating, short track, cross-country skiing, biathlon, Alpine team event, big air skiing, aerials
• 2030:  Stockholm hosts most of the same except that this time, Riga hosts some Ice Hockey preliminary rounds and one or two of finals and some Short Track preliminaries

For remainig events, retain plans as for 2026 bid.

• Sliding events at Sigulda Sliding Centre, Latvia
• Big air and aerials at Stockholm’s 1912 Olympic Stadium
• “Are” hosts alpine skiing, freestyle skiing, snowboarding
• “Falun” hosts Nordic combined and ski jumping

[Sigh]

Fascinated by the level of excitement for extremely hypothetical games in Sweden-Latvia. Of course, if Latvia is prepared to take more than it's fair share of the cost that could help the SOK.

Remember that real enthusiasm in Sweden for "Stockholm-xxxx-yyyy-zzzz 2030" doesn't extend far beyond the small circle around SOK.  When "Swedish Officials" are mentioned above, that should have been SOK officials. If there is even one Swedish politician that has come out to really support a 2030 bid I have missed that. Some are outright hostile to the idea, most give the response that they will wait to see what the pre-study comes up with.

It will be interesting to see if SOK will find solutions to the technical problems high-lighted by the evaluation of the 2026 bid (which was deemed not fully compliant by the evaluation team). One main objection was the insufficient infrastructure (mainly accomodation) in Falun. Now many more outdoors events are supposed to be located in Falun than in the 2026 bid.

[AustralianFan]

1 hour ago, Sigh said:

Fascinated by the level of excitement for extremely hypothetical games in Sweden-Latvia. Of course, if Latvia is prepared to take more than it's fair share of the cost that could help the SOK.

Remember that real enthusiasm in Sweden for "Stockholm-xxxx-yyyy-zzzz 2030" doesn't extend far beyond the small circle around SOK.  When "Swedish Officials" are mentioned above, that should have been SOK officials. If there is even one Swedish politician that has come out to really support a 2030 bid I have missed that. Some are outright hostile to the idea, most give the response that they will wait to see what the pre-study comes up with.

It will be interesting to see if SOK will find solutions to the technical problems high-lighted by the evaluation of the 2026 bid (which was deemed not fully compliant by the evaluation team). One main objection was the insufficient infrastructure (mainly accomodation) in Falun. Now many more outdoors events are supposed to be located in Falun than in the 2026 bid.

? only two events in Falun listed above, Nordic combined and ski jumping.

This was the source of just these two events: NBC Sports fast facts - Stockholm Are 2926 Winter Olympic bid

https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2019/06/21/stockholm-are-2026-winter-olympic-bid/

[AustralianFan]

1 hour ago, Sigh said:

Fascinated by the level of excitement for extremely hypothetical games in Sweden-Latvia. Of course, if Latvia is prepared to take more than it's fair share of the cost that could help the SOK.

Remember that real enthusiasm in Sweden for "Stockholm-xxxx-yyyy-zzzz 2030" doesn't extend far beyond the small circle around SOK.  When "Swedish Officials" are mentioned above, that should have been SOK officials. If there is even one Swedish politician that has come out to really support a 2030 bid I have missed that. Some are outright hostile to the idea, most give the response that they will wait to see what the pre-study comes up with.

It will be interesting to see if SOK will find solutions to the technical problems high-lighted by the evaluation of the 2026 bid (which was deemed not fully compliant by the evaluation team). One main objection was the insufficient infrastructure (mainly accomodation) in Falun. Now many more outdoors events are supposed to be located in Falun than in the 2026 bid.

 

4 minutes ago, AustralianFan said:

? only two events in Falun listed above, Nordic combined and ski jumping.

This was the source of just these two events: NBC Sports fast facts - Stockholm Are 2926 Winter Olympic bid

https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2019/06/21/stockholm-are-2026-winter-olympic-bid/

@Sigh

Cross checking with  IOC - Stockholm Are 2026 - Candidate City and that also shows only two events in Falun in the 2026 bid, exactly as I said.

 

[stryker]

Why include Riga at all outside of sliding events? It simply creates more of a logistical challenge not to mention I highly doubt either the IIHF or the ISU would be on board especially the IIHF. Yes Riga has hosted the IIHF world championships using Arena Riga and Skonto Arena. However, Stockholm boasts two retractable roof stadiums that could easily be turned into two ice hockey arenas. Friends Arena at 50,000 could be turned into two 25,000 seat arenas while Tele2 Arena could be turned into two 15,000 seat arenas. When you get to the medal rounds, the arena could be reconfigured with the rink in the middle of the stadium. Suddenly you have capacity crowds of 35,000 or 50,000. That means more people in seats which means more money. The IIHF isn't going to sacrifice money just so Latvia can host some ice hockey games. Same goes for figure skating and short track which I would suspect would be held by the newly renovated Stockholm Globe or whatever it's called now.

[AustralianFan]

1 hour ago, stryker said:

Why include Riga at all outside of sliding events? It simply creates more of a logistical challenge not to mention I highly doubt either the IIHF or the ISU would be on board especially the IIHF. Yes Riga has hosted the IIHF world championships using Arena Riga and Skonto Arena. However, Stockholm boasts two retractable roof stadiums that could easily be turned into two ice hockey arenas. Friends Arena at 50,000 could be turned into two 25,000 seat arenas while Tele2 Arena could be turned into two 15,000 seat arenas. When you get to the medal rounds, the arena could be reconfigured with the rink in the middle of the stadium. Suddenly you have capacity crowds of 35,000 or 50,000. That means more people in seats which means more money. The IIHF isn't going to sacrifice money just so Latvia can host some ice hockey games. Same goes for figure skating and short track which I would suspect would be held by the newly renovated Stockholm Globe or whatever it's called now.

For harmony I guess.   Even though Stockholm can handle all non-sliding events, media reports are saying that Latvia wishes to discuss including some of their own indoor venues in the Games.  Shouldn’t be a problem to allow Latvia to have some Ice Hockey preliminary rounds at least?  I would think that the IIHF would support this given the good faith created when Latvia took on the entire 2021 World Champs after Belarus was booted as co-host.  The question is, how much is Stockholm willing to compromise?

[FYI]

7 hours ago, Sigh said:

Fascinated by the level of excitement for extremely hypothetical games in Sweden-Latvia. Of course, if Latvia is prepared to take more than it's fair share of the cost that could help the SOK.

Remember that real enthusiasm in Sweden for "Stockholm-xxxx-yyyy-zzzz 2030" doesn't extend far beyond the small circle around SOK.  When "Swedish Officials" are mentioned above, that should have been SOK officials. If there is even one Swedish politician that has come out to really support a 2030 bid I have missed that. Some are outright hostile to the idea, most give the response that they will wait to see what the pre-study comes up with.

Just think of these boards like "SOK officials", & then you'll understand the fascinated level of excitement here over extremely hypothetical Games in Sweden-Latvia. Afterall, these are basically mainly Olympic-related forums. And any 'interested party' that comes about, especially when we're talking about the dire selection process that is now the 2030 Winter Olympics, & frenzy around here is how it can be described at times. 

That said, though, a lot of the media feeds into this, too. When they headline with titles like "Sweden emerges as sudden 'frontrunner' for the 2030 Winter Olympics". I mean, how is that so? lol But yeah, it all comes down to when many people mistaken "Swedish officals" with SOK officials.

 

[AustralianFan]

8 hours ago, Sigh said:

Remember that real enthusiasm in Sweden for "Stockholm-xxxx-yyyy-zzzz 2030" doesn't extend far beyond the small circle around SOK.  When "Swedish Officials" are mentioned above, that should have been SOK officials. If there is even one Swedish politician that has come out to really support a 2030 bid I have missed that. Some are outright hostile to the idea, most give the response that they will wait to see what the pre-study comes up with.

Support from politicians and the public in both Sweden and Latvia remains to be seen - let’s see how that pans out.  I’d suspect there is likely to be some political support given this statement from Asa Edlund Jonsson, secretary general of the Swedish Olympic Committee:

”Staging the 2030 Winter Olympics ‘could be a campfire to rally Sweden around’.

“The idea is to review the concept that existed for the candidacy in 2026, which would mean competitions in several places in Sweden,” Jönsson added. “Here we feel confident that there is great experience in arranging world-class winter championships in the Swedish sports movement.”

Feasibility Study for a 2030 Bid

Wed 8 Feb 2023:

“The Swedish Olympic and Paralympic Committees and the Swedish Sports Confederation will start a feasibility study for 2030. A report from the study will be presented on April 20.”    (NBC Sports)

SOK Officials Attend IOC Future Host Commission Meeting with Sweden and Latvia

Fri 10 March:

During a meeting between Swedish and Latvian officials at the Ministry of Education and Science, the possibility of using indoor venues in Riga in addition to the bobsleigh, luge and skeleton track in Siguda was discussed.

SOK officials, including former secretary general Gunilla Lindberg, a member of the IOC's Future Host Commission for the Olympic Winter Games, presented the application process for hosting the multi-sport event.

Latvia Working Group

“This is set to feature representatives from the Latvian Olympic Committee (LOK), Ministries and participating local Governments, and follows an approach from the Swedish Olympic Committee (SOK).”

Latvia form working group to consider joining Sweden on 2030 Winter Olympics bid - ITG

[baron-pierreIV]

WHOA!!  JUst looked at Latvia's population.  DIdn't realize that they are under TWO million, more like 1.88 million citizens.  Hmmm,  Even with an abundance of indoor stadia -- which Stockholm also has, I wonder if they can sell enough tickets to fill whatever indoors events are alloted to them?  Whereas Sweden has 10.6 million alone.  (And even if you add the pops of the neighbors, just NOR-SWE-DEN alone would vastly outnumber EST-LAT-LITH.)  So I think Riga could realistically only get Women's Ice Hockey and probably Short or Long-Track speed skating.  Stockholm would want to hold on to all the other Indoor events where they will have stronger teams to field; and Stockholm would be better equipped to handle larger international crowds.  

Should a Stockholm-Sigulda (they have to go by the city names) Games bear fruit, wouldn't it be the supreme irony/parallel that in 1956, Stockholm played an outlier/add-on host for Equestrian to Melbourne's main set of sports; while come 2030, Sweden hosts the main body of sports but hands off one segment of sports to another country which has the equipment to stage them?  I'd say funny-strange how history could repeat itself in a different configuration. 

And while Melbourne 1956 happened while the USSR had already invaded Hungary, let's hope that the Ukraine-Russia stand-off will still not be happening even by 2026.  (Note, Mexico 1968 happened when friggin' USSR invaded Czechoslovakia.  What is it with these Stalinists?   

Edited March 11, 2023 by baron-pierreIV

[Sigh]

1 hour ago, AustralianFan said:

Support from politicians and the public in both Sweden and Latvia remains to be seen - let’s see how that pans out.  I’d suspect there is likely to be some political support given this statement from Asa Edlund Jonsson, secretary general of the Swedish Olympic Committee:

”Staging the 2030 Winter Olympics ‘could be a campfire to rally Sweden around’.

“The idea is to review the concept that existed for the candidacy in 2026, which would mean competitions in several places in Sweden,” Jönsson added. “Here we feel confident that there is great experience in arranging world-class winter championships in the Swedish sports movement.

Please note that the statement came from a SOK member. They have always been very enthusiastic. The Swedish people less so. The one poll I have seen since February 8 had the support at 42 percent. That is before any serious debate has started. If you have a look at the aborted bids from various cities for the 2026 games support has a tendency to decrease rather than increase when people get to know the circumstances better. Hosting the final for European Song Contest next year would be much, much more popular.

Latvia appears to be more interested. There government ministers are involved. Not in Sweden.

8 hours ago, AustralianFan said:

Cross checking with  IOC - Stockholm Are 2026 - Candidate City and that also shows only two events in Falun in the 2026 bid, exactly as I said.

No one disputes that and still the evaluation comittee found problems with accomodation. As for additional events I was talking about 2030. No one takes building a ski stadium in Stockholm seriously any longer. Especially not at the environmentally questionable site suggested for 2026. With at best two weeks of snow (and less and less as times goes by) every year a ski stadium in Stockholm would either not be used after hypothetical winter games or hideously expensive to provide with artificial snow. Falun already has a ski stadium. Biathlon most likely would be located in Östersund.

My guess is that the pre-study will find that only someone completely detached from political and economical realities would continue. Of course that means that SOK will push on as enthusiastically as ever.

[stryker]

6 hours ago, AustralianFan said:

For harmony I guess.   Even though Stockholm can handle all non-sliding events, media reports are saying that Latvia wishes to discuss including some of their own indoor venues in the Games.  Shouldn’t be a problem to allow Latvia to have some Ice Hockey preliminary rounds at least?  I would think that the IIHF would support this given the good faith created when Latvia took on the entire 2021 World Champs after Belarus was booted as co-host.  The question is, how much is Stockholm willing to compromise?

Harmony and good faith don't count for dollars or in this case kronas. The problem with outsourcing even preliminary rounds is the logistical challenge not to mention it would add significantly to costs for charter flights back and forth not to mention I highly doubt Stockholm would agree to giving up what would be games from one of the marquee events in ice hockey. 25,000 seats vs. 14,600 seats for a preliminary ice hockey game. It's all about the money. I think the IIHF would blow a gasket. Case in point, look how both FIBA and the IHF have reacted to holding preliminary rounds in an arena a couple hours drive outside of Paris. Now try the same thing only a flight away.

On another note, Latvia wanting to host ice events does somewhat resonate with a point I made on a thread a while back. There's plenty of cities in Europe (Amsterdam, London, even Copenhagen) that could easily host all the ice events in a WOGs while somewhere else in Europe could host the skiing and sliding events (London with Lillehammer?) Given the difficulty of finding cities who want to host, perhaps this is something that gets explored further, then again, there'd have to be interest in the idea in the first place. As much as I'd like to see Sweden host a WOGs, I remember Helsinki's bid in 2006 with Lillehammer that was quickly dismissed by the IOC, but would be welcomed today.

[karenkresgs]

18 hours ago, Sigh said:

Fascinated by the level of excitement for extremely hypothetical games in Sweden-Latvia. Of course, if Latvia is prepared to take more than it's fair share of the cost that could help the SOK.

Remember that real enthusiasm in Sweden for "Stockholm-xxxx-yyyy-zzzz 2030" doesn't extend far beyond the small circle around SOK.  When "Swedish Officials" are mentioned above, that should have been SOK officials. If there is even one Swedish politician that has come out to really support a 2030 bid I have missed that. Some are outright hostile to the idea, most give the response that they will wait to see what the pre-study comes up with. Here.

It will be interesting to see if SOK will find solutions to the technical problems high-lighted by the evaluation of the 2026 bid (which was deemed not fully compliant by the evaluation team). One main objection was the insufficient infrastructure (mainly accomodation) in Falun. Now many more outdoors events are supposed to be located in Falun than in the 2026 bid.

Yes, this is interesting to see! Of course, there are many questions about the holding, but we will follow this amazing event!