By Paul Joseph
The venues for the 2030 Winter Olympics have been confirmed, with competitions set to take place across Lyon and the French Alps, while long-track speed skating will be staged in the Netherlands.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) confirmed the final venue allocations on Wednesday, bringing an end to months of changes surrounding the organisation of the Games.
A total of 11 competition venues will be used, primarily across southern France.
Lyon will host curling, figure skating and short-track speed skating at three locations, including Parc Olympique Lyonnais, the home stadium of French Ligue 1 club Olympique Lyonnais.
Courchevel will stage the Alpine skiing speed events, including downhill and super-G competitions and their team events, while Val d’Isère will host the slalom events.
Long-track speed skating will take place at the Thialf arena in Heerenveen, Netherlands.
The decision to hold speed skating outside France was part of the agreement reached with the IOC when the French Alps were awarded the Games. The arrangement is intended to reduce costs by using an existing venue rather than constructing a new facility.
The final venue plan follows several changes to the original arrangements.
In May, organisers moved the ice sports hub from Nice to Lyon after Nice mayor Eric Ciotti rejected plans to convert the city’s football stadium into a temporary ice rink.
The Games also faced organisational uncertainty last month when Edgar Grospiron stepped down as president of the organising committee, 18 months after taking the position.
The 2030 Winter Olympics will feature 16 sporting disciplines in the French Alps.
Freeride skiing and synchronised figure skating, known as synchro9, will make their Olympic debuts at the Games.
However, Nordic combined will be removed from the Winter Olympics programme for the first time.
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