10 Swiss cities could host 2038 Winter Olympics

The association Switzerland 2038 has revealed the 10 Swiss cities that would hold the 2038 Winter Olympics if the country is successful in its bid to host the games.

Switzerland 2038 announces Winter Olympic host cities

After an unsuccessful bid to host the 2030 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Switzerland entered a “privileged dialogue” with the International Olympic Committee (IOC). This means that Switzerland has been reserved as host until the end of 2027, and has until then to finalise its application.

Which is exactly what the Switzerland 2038 project team is doing. The association has announced that 10 Swiss cities would host various sports at the 2038 Winter Olympics. The games would be spread across all geographic and language regions in the country. 

“Switzerland can make history”, according to a Switzerland 2038 press release, as games are usually held in a single city rather than throughout a country. The organisers aim to utilise facilities that are already available in many Swiss cantons.

Which Swiss cities could host the 2038 Winter Olympics?

The proposed cities for the 2038 Winter Olympics, along with the sports they could host, are:

• Bern - closing ceremony
• Crans-Montana - Alpine skiing, wheelchair curling
• Engelberg - figure skating, short track
• Geneva - curling, speed skating
• Lausanne - figure skating, short track, para ice hockey, opening ceremony
• Lenzerheide - biathlon, para biathlon, para cross-country skiing
• St. Moritz - ski freestyle, snowboard, bobsleigh, luge, skeleton, para-alpine skiing, para-snowboarding
• Zurich, Zug, Lugano - ice hockey

Will Switzerland host the 2038 Winter Olympics?

The next step in Switzerland’s bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games is for the federal government to put out a proposal for public consultation. The government also has to decide on whether it will fund around 20 percent of the costs, equal to around 200 million Swiss francs, according to SRF. 

Each canton may also have to confirm its participation through a referendum, but if rejected then the association can choose another Swiss canton to be a host. By the end of 2027, Switzerland will have to submit its final application to the IOC.

The last time the Winter Olympics were held in Switzerland was in 1928 and 1948 in St. Moritz. The 2026 games will be held in Italy, 2030 in France and 2034 in the US.