Swiss 2038 Olympic Winter Games bid releases decentralized venue plan with opening ceremony in IOC capital Lausanne – price tag set at 2.2 billion Swiss francs

[GBModerator]

Officials claim that this would be the first-ever Olympics hosted by an entire country with 10 cantons and 14 municipalities directly involved in the organization

The post Swiss 2038 Olympic Winter Games bid releases decentralized venue plan with opening ceremony in IOC capital Lausanne – price tag set at 2.2 billion Swiss francs appeared first on GamesBids.com.

View the full article

[AustralianFan]

 

Spreading the financial burden so the entire country is involved is a smart move.  No guarantees that referenda won’t still be held though.

La Pontaise Olympic Stadium in Lausanne could host the Ceremonies with a capacity of 15,700.  Not a lot of roof coverage over spectators, but cover the athletics track and it could work.

La Pontaise Olympic Stadium, Lausanne

 

[AustralianFan]

Stade de la Tuiliere in Lausanne with a modest capacity of 12,544  is possible too actually for the 2038 Ceremonies with better roof coverage over more spectators

 

Vaudoise Arena used for the 2020 Youth Winter Olympics OC is too small for the big one, being just an ice hockey venue.

[yoshi]

Crumbs, there's decentralised & then there's that! Still, nationwide hosting is surely the future of the Winter Olympics, & if anywhere can handle it & show it can work, it's Switzerland. Their transport system is obviously good enough & the whole proposal leans hard into Swiss identity as a deeply federal country, which should help its popularity & spread the cost. From having looked at a map of Lausanne when I nearly went there, I'm imagining the ceremony on the lakefront outside the Olympic Museum?

[Sir Rols]

I’m still hoping this stupid “preferred dialogue” nonsense is dispensed with and we get it open to competition. Not that Switzerland 2038 would be bad, but I just think a host should be pre-approved and promised.

3 minutes ago, yoshi said:

I'm imagining the ceremony on the lakefront outside the Olympic Museum?

Yeah, I think that would be the most likely

[AustralianFan]

54 minutes ago, yoshi said:

Crumbs, there's decentralised & then there's that! Still, nationwide hosting is surely the future of the Winter Olympics, & if anywhere can handle it & show it can work, it's Switzerland. Their transport system is obviously good enough & the whole proposal leans hard into Swiss identity as a deeply federal country, which should help its popularity & spread the cost. From having looked at a map of Lausanne when I nearly went there, I'm imagining the ceremony on the lakefront outside the Olympic Museum?

Somewhere here do you mean?

Looks a bit it tricky to have an open performance space, temporary grandstands.  But after the Paris 2024 OC in and around the Seine and Effiel Tower, anything’s possible in Lausanne.  Apparently the Lake does not freeze in winter either.

[yoshi]

Looking at that, I'm thinking floating stage, Singapore style. It's Switzerland, they've got the money 

(Actually it's a bit of a missed opportunity to have had either Nice or SLC in 30 & then this in 2034, for a round anniversary of the IOC. I guess 144 is a special number in its way, but multiples of 10 are the important milestones)

(Also I want the bid process back as much as anyone, but if there's one time that doing it the Bach way is justified, it's probably for this. Nationwide hosting is likely the only way the Winter Olympics can survive into the long term, so it makes sense to try it in a country like Switzerland that's well placed to try it - but if there was a normal process they'd probably lose to a more "compact" plan. But this is the only case. The 36 Summer process should obviously be open, & future Winter ones also open - but between nations.)

Edited January 13 by yoshi

[AustralianFan]

9 minutes ago, yoshi said:

Looking at that, I'm thinking floating stage, Singapore style. It's Switzerland, they've got the money 

(Actually it's a bit of a missed opportunity to have had either Nice or SLC in 30 & then this in 2034, for a round anniversary of the IOC. I guess 144 is a special number in its way, but multiples of 10 are the important milestones)

(Also I want the bid process back as much as anyone, but if there's one time that doing it the Bach way is justified, it's probably for this. Nationwide hosting is likely the only way the Winter Olympics can survive into the long term, so it makes sense to try it in a country like Switzerland that's well placed to try it - but if there was a normal process they'd probably lose to a more "compact" plan. But this is the only case. The 36 Summer process should obviously be open, & future Winter ones also open - but between nations.)

Excellent idea, floating stage.

Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games Opening Ceremony - floating stage

Image credit: zarch.com.sg

[StefanMUC]

5 hours ago, yoshi said:

Crumbs, there's decentralised & then there's that! Still, nationwide hosting is surely the future of the Winter Olympics, & if anywhere can handle it & show it can work, it's Switzerland. Their transport system is obviously good enough & the whole proposal leans hard into Swiss identity as a deeply federal country, which should help its popularity & spread the cost. From having looked at a map of Lausanne when I nearly went there, I'm imagining the ceremony on the lakefront outside the Olympic Museum?

I made it there actually in autumn 2024, and the lakefront stretching from the museum to the IOC HQ would probably good (there‘s a stadium there on the way too). Just that a „city ceremony“ like in Paris may be a bit more chilly in Swiss February, especially at the lake with wind coming over from the mountains - or maybe worse fog  (in 3 days at the lake, we never could see fully across it to the French side). You also want snow on the slopes, but not on the streets if you do that kind of ceremony.

That said, I can already see the torch bearer running up the stairs to the museum and lighting the fire there.

[baron-pierreIV]

4 hours ago, AustralianFan said:

 

Nope. I've been there.  That's how I approached my visit to the TOM -- from the Quai d'Ouchy.  That site will be even MORE problematic than the pit in the Trockadero which they adapted for part of the Paris 2024 OC.  It's TOTALLY idiotic to have an OC there -- regardless of whether there's a floating stage or not.  Luckily, the Swiss have more common sense than that.  The smaller Stadium de Tuilleire would be perfect.  

[Sigh]

I like the way the Swiss basically said "**** you" to the IOC and their directives when giving the Swiss bid a special status.

The basic plan is essentially the same the IOC said was unacceptable. Two minor towns have been removed and two bigger ones added (and the two St Moritz sites rebranded as one). Speed skating has gone from TBD and, as far as I can see, alpine mountainering has gone TBD.

I have so far to see the plan for the olympic villages. The clusters, especially the Engelberg-Zürich cluster, may be a bit to big for one village each.

Another extremely interesting item is the non-government financial guarantee. This may open up for more NOCs, like SOK, to bid successfully.

Yet another interesting point is the budget that has increased by some 50%. Probably due to villages, speed skating adapting of Palexpo and new facililties in Engelberg. 

Still carefully calibrated by Switzerland2038 to avoid any referendum. The federal subsidy now required may be small enough to be deemed not "referendable". If any work for new venues is necessary that appears to be within the games budget and not at the cost of any municipality.

Switzerland2038 has earlier made very clear that they don't want any referndum, whatever the IOC says.

 

 

[intoronto]

This isn't an Olympics. So spread out its ridiculous. Could they not consolidate some venues into the same city? For ex. Couldn't Zurich host all the ice sports? 

[baron-pierreIV]

4 hours ago, intoronto said:

This isn't an Olympics. So spread out its ridiculous. Could they not consolidate some venues into the same city? For ex. Couldn't Zurich host all the ice sports? 

I'm sure they thought of that.  Wait till India hosts -- the 35 sports in 35 different Indian cities!!  😀

[DamC]

6 hours ago, intoronto said:

This isn't an Olympics. So spread out its ridiculous. Could they not consolidate some venues into the same city? For ex. Couldn't Zurich host all the ice sports? 

Well Zurich has two large arenas and a smaller one. And there's two other 7k/6k ice rinks in the nearby cities of Zug and Rapperswil. So Zurich could host most of the ice sports. But Geneva is the only city with an exhibition centre large enough for Speed Skating. And Geneva doesn't have any large permanent arena. You could create one or two inside the exhibition halls but that costs money. And since Lenzerheide is the only world-class biathlon venue in Switzerland and St-Moritz the only bobsled track you're still gonna have many events in Graubünden.

Don't forget they tried to bid in 2026 with the snow sports in Sion/Valais or Graubünden and voters rejected both. So a nationwide bid is the only way to make it acceptable.

 

If organizers want to sell more than 30k tickets for the opening ceremony in Lausanne, they'll probably have to build a temporary stadium like Albertville or Pyeongchang, it looks like both existing stadiums are too small to be expanded that much.

[sebastien1214]

20 hours ago, intoronto said:

This isn't an Olympics. So spread out its ridiculous. 

Well, there are 250km between Milan and Cortina, which is also... the total length (in width) of Switzerland, meaning that Switzerland is roughly the same size as the area of the 2026 Olympics. So, if for you the Switzerland 2038 project is not the Olympic Games... then it's the same for 2026.

[baron-pierreIV]

13 hours ago, DamC said:

If organizers want to sell more than 30k tickets for the opening ceremony in Lausanne, they'll probably have to build a temporary stadium like Albertville or Pyeongchang, it looks like both existing stadiums are too small to be expanded that much.

It's crazy trying to Open a WOG in Lausanne just because that's where the IOC is headquartered.  In terms of importance and economic weight, it's what -- just the 4th city in Switzerland -- after Zurich, Geneva, Basel, (Lausanne), then Bern (of course, because it is the capital)-- even though there is no suitable/appropriate venue for it?  Why not Geneva -- which is the 2nd UN city in the world after NYC -- and is just an hour away by train, from Lausanne?? 

Edited January 14 by baron-pierreIV

[yoshi]

Well, history does matter I guess. It'd be a nice touch for the Olympic Capital (the only officially named one, not even Athens has that title) to finally host a senior Olympic event. I'm quite surprised they haven't made it or Zurich the main centre for the ice events & ceremonies, but they want to try nationwide hosting - plus in Switzerland it's important to keep things balanced across language areas if possible, especially between German & French. St Moritz would also be appropriate if they want to display Swiss Olympic history. 

[Rei]

3 hours ago, sebastien1214 said:

Well, there are 250km between Milan and Cortina, which is also... the total length (in width) of Switzerland, meaning that Switzerland is roughly the same size as the area of the 2026 Olympics. So, if for you the Switzerland 2038 project is not the Olympic Games... then it's the same for 2026.

Distance might be similar but the spread out concepts are quite different. 2026 has two main, distinctive clusters which are kinda compact on their own: big stadium and all main ice arenas in one; curling&sliding center in the other (+ all the mountaineering sites which orbit around those two).

This preparatory bid by the Swiss brings the spread on another -more dliuted- level. Kinda similar to the Nice-AF 2030.

[StefanMUC]

St Moritz wouldn‘t just be there for the Olympic history though. It‘s the logical/ default choice for sliding sports in Switzerland, and I guess if it hadn‘t required more funding and thus a referendum in Grisons, they could have put the alpine events there as well instead of Crans Montana - which in the abundance of Swiss alpine resorts still also makes sense as a venue given that it will host the next alpine World Champs 2027. 

Likewise, Lenzerheide and Engelberg are well established sites for their sports and if it‘s all about sustainability and avoiding funding referendums, they had to be on the list too.

Which leaves the ice sports for which none of those resort towns have appropriate venues anyway. I‘m a bit surprised they use Zug instead of Bern for ice hockey and leave the capital just with the CC. Lugano is obviously there to cover Italian-speaking Svizzera, and Geneva had to get the breadcrumbs for lack of proper arena (same happened with their bid for Eurovision 2025).

Lausanne over Zürich for the OC and the figure skating/short track also makes sense indeed given that it is the IOC‘s location and it can make for some nice symbolism.

Yes, it‘s all very spread out, and especially for the athletes it will be a pity that there will not be one or two main villages only, but in terms of travel time between the two most distant locations (Geneva/St Moritz), it‘s only one hour more than Milan-Cortina by train.

[Sigh]

Just to stir things up and be provocative:

One of the real main features of Olympics is the getting together of people active in various sports.

Once you split up the Olympic village (3+2 in 2026) does distances between venues really matter? Would surfing in Biarritz instead of Tahiti have made a better SOG?

Given the ticket prices, how many people will attend events at more than one site anyway?

 

If one really wants more concentrated games, and not rely only on dictators with deep pockets, one way of making WOGs more concentrated is to remove some sports  with expensive and "rare" existing venues like sliding and speed skating. Even given that, there are relatively few places where suitable alpine facilities are close enough to indoor arenas of sufficient size and numbers. So let's remove those as well.

 

Just to provoke some discussion.

[StefanMUC]

I loved how everything was so compact in Paris (for most sports), but this concept is indeed pretty unrealistic for winter hosts these days. And actually already for a few decades with some exceptions.

[baron-pierreIV]

6 hours ago, Sigh said:

Given the ticket prices, how many people will attend events at more than one site anyway?

That's the other thing.  You put on the shows where (1) you have the most population who would want to see it and FILL UP the venues; and (2) where there are appropriate venues, arenas, stadia.  Didn't realize that rich Geneva does not have an appropriate indoor arena.  So why not put Figure Skating in Zurich where you will have the MOST people as probably audience -- without having them travel yet to another city just to attend a sports event?  If I were a Zuricher or Genevan, and even if I could afford it -- thinking about schlepping all the way to Lausanne to see figure skating would probably deter me.  Kinda dodgy planning here by the Swiss.  

Where is Curling assigned right now??  

[StefanMUC]

23 minutes ago, baron-pierreIV said:

That's the other thing.  You put on the shows where (1) you have the most population who would want to see it and FILL UP the venues; and (2) where there are appropriate venues, arenas, stadia.  Didn't realize that rich Geneva does not have an appropriate indoor arena.  So why not put Figure Skating in Zurich where you will have the MOST people as probably audience -- without having them travel yet to another city just to attend a sports event?  If I were a Zuricher or Genevan, and even if I could afford it -- thinking about schlepping all the way to Lausanne to see figure skating would probably deter me.  Kinda dodgy planning here by the Swiss.  

Where is Curling assigned right now??  

Geneva has Curling. And any people from Geneva can hop on a train to Lausanne and be there in less than an hour. The whole area from Geneva to Vevey along the lake is like one big agglomeration with more than 1.3 million people, i.e. identical to SLC.

[Sigh]

2 hours ago, baron-pierreIV said:

That's the other thing.  You put on the shows where (1) you have the most population who would want to see it and FILL UP the venues; and (2) where there are appropriate venues, arenas, stadia.  Didn't realize that rich Geneva does not have an appropriate indoor arena.  So why not put Figure Skating in Zurich where you will have the MOST people as probably audience -- without having them travel yet to another city just to attend a sports event?  If I were a Zuricher or Genevan, and even if I could afford it -- thinking about schlepping all the way to Lausanne to see figure skating would probably deter me.  Kinda dodgy planning here by the Swiss.  

Where is Curling assigned right now??  

You make a very good point - for spreading out. This way you broaden the customer base as long as the big spectator events are in fairly big urban areas. As pointed out for a Genevan to go to Zurich might be a threshold. And for incomming customers the pressure on hotels etc will not be as big.

[baron-pierreIV]

I can see the themes for Opening Ceremony:  Swiss cheese and of course, a Swiss watch! 

First the camera will zoom in a hole in the "swatch"  (oops, double pun) of cheese.  Then it will zoom onto a watch.  When when the hands move to the first city:  Lausanne l then next hour setting -- Bam!  St. Moritz!! Then, 1500 will be Crans-Joe-Montana;  then, next one, next one!!

Sheesh.  These Swiss are soooooo predictable!! 
 

Edited January 17 by baron-pierreIV