Stockholm’s plans for a bid for the Olympic Winter Games in 2026 are becoming more concrete. On the fringes of the games in Pyeongchang, application manager Richard Brisius presented a concept which, in addition to Stockholm, envisaged the locations of Are and Falun. He also wants to win the Norwegian Lillehammer in order to have the bobsleigh, luge and skeleton competitions held there.
The latter goes back to a request of the IOC not to build another ice rink especially for winter games, as was the case in Sochi or Pyeongchang. As an alternative to Lillehamer, where the games took place in 1994, Brisius brought Latvia and Germany into conversation. However, the plans are in the initial phase.
According to Swedish IOC member Gunilla Lindberg, Stockholm wants to host “cheap” games. According to Brisius, they will cost the taxpayer “absolutely nothing.
The trump card of the application is to rely almost exclusively on existing installations. In addition to a speed skating rink, only one arena is needed for cross-country skiing and biathlon.
In addition to the alpine ski races, ski cross and slopestyle competitions are to be held in Are, Falun hosts ski jumping and Nordic Combined – both cities have already hosted world championships in these sports. The heart of the games is Stockholm, where most facilities are located within a radius of only 10 km.
In addition to Stockholm, Calgary (Canada), Sapporo (Japan) and Sion (Switzerland) have expressed interest in the 2026 games. However, Sion still has to survive the referendum in the canton of Valais in June.
Sapporo is unlikely to stand a chance, as the 2018-2022 Games will take place in Asia. Graz/Schladming (Austria) is also considering an application.
Time is of the essence, prospective customers have until 31. The Commission will formally enter into a dialogue with the IOC on 13 March. It will be awarded in 2019 at the IOC session in Milan.