Undoubtedly, France takes the lead as it will host the Summer Games in Paris next summer and dares to take on the challenge of hosting the Winter Games six years later. President Emmanuel Macron praised the bid focused on the snowy Alps region as "innovative, sustainable, and inclusive," stating that it would make "France and its mountains shine." The IOC will now begin deliberations and surveillance work to ensure that everything is in order before the event is officially awarded next year. 

The three candidates increased resources compared to previous elections, such as the 2022 Winter Olympics when Beijing was chosen over Almaty, Kazakhstan. The Chinese campaign was marked by enormous investment, the exclusive use of artificial snow, and widespread environmental concerns and human rights criticism. Only two candidates also competed for the 2026 Winter Olympics, and Milan-Cortina was chosen over Stockholm. While Sweden made an effort for 2030, with Stockholm and the Are ski resort, about 600 km from the capital, planned as venues. However, France and Switzerland waited until this summer to reveal their plans. 

They kept their plans secret to become stronger. There were notable withdrawals, such as Salt Lake City, which chose to wait until 2034, for which it appears to be the sole candidate. Proposals from Sapporo and Pyrenees-Barcelona were abandoned, as were the projects of Calgary, Santiago, Auckland, Innsbruck, St. Moritz, Sion, Oslo, and Lviv, gradually dropping out. The meager benefits they provide compared to a Summer Olympics are some of the reasons why some bids ultimately fail. Ski jumps, sliding tracks for luge and bobsleigh events, and indoor speed skating rinks are the most likely to become "white elephants."

The issue of snow cover is also unavoidable, and global warming is the enemy of the normal organization of such an event. It is evident that little can be done against this, other than protecting and preventing, but this enemy is already part of the organizers' roadmaps. The warming of the planet is highly likely to further reduce the places capable of guaranteeing suitable conditions for a Winter Games. 

According to a study published by the IOC last month, only 10 countries will still be in a position to host the Winter Olympics and Paralympics by 2040, down from the current 15, affecting Europe particularly. Olympic authorities did not venture to look further down the line, but a study from Canada's University of Waterloo estimated that of the 21 previous Winter Games hosts, only eight would remain "climate reliable" in 2080 if global emissions of greenhouse gases are not significantly slashed. 

These fears condition the future of the IOC, including the "double allocation" of the 2030 and 2034 Games to secure sites as early as possible, cost-reducing measures to align the Games with various world championships, and a possible rotation between a handful of hosts with pre-existing facilities. One proposal is starting to partner between countries, even if the distances are large, to reduce new constructions and the associated consequences. The principle that "the Olympic Games now adapt to the regions and not the other way around" has been in place for years.

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