BigVic Posted June 20 Report Posted June 20 The 2026 Winter Olympics showed that two cities can work together and co-host an Olympics. Wouldn't mind Norway hosting another WOG with Oslo and Lillehammer co-hosting Quote
Sigh Posted June 20 Report Posted June 20 You'll find that there are many of us here that agree with you. Unfortunately the road there is very long. The bid for the 2022 games was basically an Oslo-Lillehammer bid. However we all know what happened with that. That withdrawaal, and the reasons for it, will effect any future consideration of a bid regardless of changed circumstances. In Spring 2023 there was an opinion poll showing a small majority support for a new bid. That induced NOK to sound out the national winter sports federations regarding a new bid. for 2030. If I remember correctly only a very shaky Sapporo bid was active at that time. After announcing this sounding out the issue died completely. Apparently no interest. However, things change over time and who knows? Still, Switzerland is in pole position for the 2038 games and even if I'm less sure today (in my opion Swiss olympic's tactics are misguided) the games are likely to be held in Switzerland. The 2042 games will most likely be held in Asia or somewhere else outside of Europe. Quote
stryker Posted June 25 Report Posted June 25 The IOC with Bach and Coates torched the Norwegians following Oslo`s withdrawal in 2022. There has been zero evidence that the IOC has attempted to rebuild the bridges they burned. I am somewhat hopeful there might be some repairing of the relationship with Coventry. Quote
Faster Posted June 25 Report Posted June 25 2038 is in Switzerland, there looks to be nothing that is going to derail that. Coventry seems only focused on a more open transparent process for 2036 (I wonder why). Quote
Sigh Posted June 26 Report Posted June 26 On 6/25/2026 at 6:31 PM, Faster said: 2038 is in Switzerland, there looks to be nothing that is going to derail that. Coventry seems only focused on a more open transparent process for 2036 (I wonder why). I agree that there appears to be no threat to Switzerland 2038 when it comes to IOC. Quote
stryker Posted June 27 Report Posted June 27 11 hours ago, Sigh said: I agree that there appears to be no threat to Switzerland 2038 when it comes to IOC. It`s the individual canton referendums that could be a problem. Quote
Sigh Posted June 27 Report Posted June 27 35 minutes ago, stryker said: It`s the individual canton referendums that could be a problem. That is one potentional stumbling block. Another is that Switzerland 2038 is doing everything they can to avoid a federal referendum, even if the opinion right now is rather favorable to big sport events. Still, apparently a federal referendum is still a possibility even if the 200 million federal contribution voted this week has been declared not sufficiently big to trigger a referendum. I'm not an expert on Swiss constitutional matters so I'm confused. A third problem is the performance guarantee. The government has explicitly declared that they are not responsible for that. Instead there will be a guarantee backed by companies (deemed OK by IOC now but was ridiculed by IOC when SOK suggested the same thing for the 2022 bid). I still think that these stumbling blocks will be overcome but I'm afraid Switzerland 2038 is repeating the same error that SOK consistently does; see the people as a problem instead of making it an asset. Quote
stryker Posted July 12 Report Posted July 12 On 6/27/2026 at 7:06 AM, Sigh said: That is one potentional stumbling block. Another is that Switzerland 2038 is doing everything they can to avoid a federal referendum, even if the opinion right now is rather favorable to big sport events. Still, apparently a federal referendum is still a possibility even if the 200 million federal contribution voted this week has been declared not sufficiently big to trigger a referendum. I'm not an expert on Swiss constitutional matters so I'm confused. A third problem is the performance guarantee. The government has explicitly declared that they are not responsible for that. Instead there will be a guarantee backed by companies (deemed OK by IOC now but was ridiculed by IOC when SOK suggested the same thing for the 2022 bid). I still think that these stumbling blocks will be overcome but I'm afraid Switzerland 2038 is repeating the same error that SOK consistently does; see the people as a problem instead of making it an asset. Agreed on all points. At the risk of turning this in another Switzerland thread, I will shift it back to Oslo-Lillehammer. In terms of public support, much of the opposition both in the populace and politically comes from the northern part of the country while there is more support for an Olympic bid in the south (I lived in Norway for two years in Arendal). With the IOC`s flexibility, Oslo and Lillehammer could easily modify the 2022 plan where no new venues would need to be constructed. No need to enclose Valle Hovin when the Vikingskipet in Hamar (1994 venue) could easily host speed skating. They could also scrap the new 15,000 seat arena for downtown Oslo. Hold ice hockey at the Unity Arena (formerly Telenor Arena which was set for short track and figure skating in the 2022 bid) and use the new Jordal Amfi arena as the secondary ice hockey venue. Shift figure skating and short track to Hakons Hall in Lillehammer. Curling can take place at the renovated Spektrum Arena in Oslo or one of the existing venues from the Lillehammer Olympics such as the Olympic Amphitheatre. One public concern that would need to be overcome is as successful as the Lillehammer Olympics were, they also went way overbudget at over 2$ billion. In fact, the entire 1994 Olympics lost money, despite how memorable they were. This is in addition to the much-needed IOC reproachment which has yet to take place. I had hopes with Thomas Bach gone, that the new regime would take this path, but we have yet to see it, and that is a concern given the fact that Norway is one of the few remaining countries that can sustainably host a Winter Olympics. Quote
Josh0108 Posted July 13 Report Posted July 13 20 hours ago, stryker said: Agreed on all points. At the risk of turning this in another Switzerland thread, I will shift it back to Oslo-Lillehammer. In terms of public support, much of the opposition both in the populace and politically comes from the northern part of the country while there is more support for an Olympic bid in the south (I lived in Norway for two years in Arendal). With the IOC`s flexibility, Oslo and Lillehammer could easily modify the 2022 plan where no new venues would need to be constructed. No need to enclose Valle Hovin when the Vikingskipet in Hamar (1994 venue) could easily host speed skating. They could also scrap the new 15,000 seat arena for downtown Oslo. Hold ice hockey at the Unity Arena (formerly Telenor Arena which was set for short track and figure skating in the 2022 bid) and use the new Jordal Amfi arena as the secondary ice hockey venue. Shift figure skating and short track to Hakons Hall in Lillehammer. Curling can take place at the renovated Spektrum Arena in Oslo or one of the existing venues from the Lillehammer Olympics such as the Olympic Amphitheatre. One public concern that would need to be overcome is as successful as the Lillehammer Olympics were, they also went way overbudget at over 2$ billion. In fact, the entire 1994 Olympics lost money, despite how memorable they were. This is in addition to the much-needed IOC reproachment which has yet to take place. I had hopes with Thomas Bach gone, that the new regime would take this path, but we have yet to see it, and that is a concern given the fact that Norway is one of the few remaining countries that can sustainably host a Winter Olympics. Here's my take on the potential venues, with a perfect balance of venues between the two: Oslo Venue Olympic Sport Paralympic Sport Capacity Status Ullevaal Stadion Ceremonies (co-host) Opening ceremony 27,182 {expanded to 30,000 with expansion of west stand} Existing, renovated Holmenkollbakken Ski jumping (large) 30,000 Existing Midtstubakken Ski jumping (normal) 15,000 Existing Holmenkollen National Arena Biathlon, cross-country skiing Para biathlon, para cross-country skiing Existing Skimore Oslo Freestyle skiing (halfpipe, slalom), snowboarding (slalom, halfpipe, slopestyle, cross) Para snowboarding Existing Nye Jordal Amfi Ice hockey (preliminaries) 5,300 Existing Unity Arena, Fornebu Ice hockey (preliminaries and finals) Para ice hockey 12,500 Existing with temporary stands Lillehammer Venue Olympic Sport Paralympic Sport Capacity Status Lysgårdsbakken Ceremonies (co-host) 35,000 Existing Håkons Hall Figure skating, short track speed skating 11,500 Existing, renovated Vikingskipet Speed skating Closing ceremony 10,600 Existing Lillehammer Olympic Bobsleigh and Luge Track Bobsleigh, luge, skeleton Existing, renovated Kanthaugen Freestyle Arena Freestyle skiing (aerials, moguls, ski-cross), snowboarding (slopestyle) Existing Hafjell Alpine skiing (slalom, giant slalom) Para alpine skiing (slalom, giant slalom) Existing Kvitfjell Alpine skiing (downhill, combined and super G) Para alpine skiing (downhill, super combined and super G) Existing Gjøvik Olympic Cavern Hall Curling Wheelchair curling 5,830 Existing Stampesletta Freestyle skiing (big air), snowboarding (big air) Temporary Quote
Sigh Posted July 14 Report Posted July 14 On 7/12/2026 at 9:42 PM, stryker said: At the risk of turning this in another Switzerland thread, I will shift it back to Oslo-Lillehammer. In terms of public support, much of the opposition both in the populace and politically comes from the northern part of the country while there is more support for an Olympic bid in the south (I lived in Norway for two years in Arendal). Do you know anything about public opinion in Norway at present about this issue? I did a cursory media search and found some ripples at the time of the Milano-Cortina games, which games were rather positive for Norway, but nothing since. As I said it was cursory so I'm interested if you have more information. What I did see, is that the cost appears to be the main issue whenever this is discussed. Quote
stryker Posted July 22 Report Posted July 22 On 7/14/2026 at 1:31 PM, Sigh said: Do you know anything about public opinion in Norway at present about this issue? I did a cursory media search and found some ripples at the time of the Milano-Cortina games, which games were rather positive for Norway, but nothing since. As I said it was cursory so I'm interested if you have more information. What I did see, is that the cost appears to be the main issue whenever this is discussed. NRK conducted a poll a couple of years ago and after the Milano-Cortina games, there was some chatter but mostly about the memories of 1994 and the failed 2022 Oslo bid. But as I said previously, until the IOC works to mend the fences, I think a Norway bid is highly unlikely, which is a shame. Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.