PARIS: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced that France will host the Winter Olympics in 2020 while the Salt Lake City of the US will host the 2034 Games.
It would be the fourth time that France will host the Winter Olympics. The decision by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) depends on French President Emmanuel Macron signing a document to ensure funding and security no later than October 1.
“I confirm the full commitment of the French nation and assure you that I will ask the next prime minister to include not only this guarantee but also an Olympic Law in the priorities of the new government,” Macron said at the IOC session on Wednesday.
“Seven years ago, we made the same commitment (for the Paris 2024 Summer Games), and we delivered. We will do the same.” The decision was announced just two days before the opening of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Later, at the same meeting, Salt Lake City, in the US state of Utah, was chosen to host the 2034 Winter Olympics. The French Alps were given the Winter Olympics’ hosting with 84 out of 88 votes.
The IOC said it had received assurances about finances and security from two of the French regions involved in the bidding process. However, it said it would not sign the host city agreement until all guarantees were delivered.
Salt Lake City was awarded the 2034 Winter Olympic Games, receiving 83 out of 89 votes in the session of the IOC. “To the people celebrating back home: We are back baby, the Olympics are coming back to Utah,” said Utah Governor Spencer Cox, who was part of the presentation team at the IOC session in Paris, along with Olympic skiing champion Lindsey Vonn.
Salt Lake City was originally interested in hosting the 2030 Games, which were awarded to France. However, the city dropped those plans as the date was too close to the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
