Now Olympic director Christophe Dubi speaks: “Switzerland was not used as a bait for 2030.”

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Blick: Why were the 2030 Games awarded to France instead of Switzerland?
Christophe Dubi: Moment. It is very important that France was not chosen instead of Switzerland. Because we have installed the 2038 privileged dialogue for Switzerland, it remains a strong project with good opportunities for the future.

Nevertheless, the IOC was more convinced of France for 2030. Why?
The fact that the games will take place in six years spoke clearly in favor of France. Many synergies from Paris 2024 can be leveraged for 2030. We can build on the political and administrative work that has been done for Paris for years. It can be adapted for 2030. For example, the entire safety concept can be mirrored for the Winter Games regions. Many Parisian sponsors have indicated that they want to be on board by 2030. All that groundwork is there, as is the expertise that France has developed in some crucial areas, particularly in sustainability, where they have done incredible work, but also on issues of engagement.

Did it have to be France because the 2030 Games were awarded at such short notice?
France offers all the super-powerful elements mentioned above, where you can say, ‘OK, we now have five and a half years to organize the Games – it’s more or less plug-and-play.’ But there are other factors.

To describe.
We conduct our own independent investigations. They show that there is tremendous support for the games across France and in the regions. Another area that is very strong in the French project is political support, which obviously starts with President Macron and continues with the presidents of the regions and in all areas of government. In line with the Olympic Agenda 2020+5, the French project includes four clusters (four Olympic centers between Nice and Lake Geneva, ed.). That was a very strong argument. The locations may be spread over a certain area, but clusters remain important. This also matches the wishes of the athletes; they want to meet in Olympic villages.

The decentralized Swiss concept lacks such Olympic centers. Was Switzerland never warned in advance that this could be a significant negative?
Naturally, this was a topic that was discussed with all applicants. Our position is clear, because clusters also make organizational sense. The more dispersed the locations are, the more complex the organization becomes in terms of transportation, security, media infrastructure, and so on. It’s about finding the right balance.

In other words, you then propose that Switzerland say goodbye to the decentralized concept for 2038 and prefer to apply like Lausanne/Valais/St. Submit Moritz?
Even though I’m Swiss, I can’t make any concrete suggestions here.

What was the feedback on Swiss Olympic?
Look: The current Swiss project reflects our country’s amazing strengths. Starting with a number of state-of-the-art ice rinks, one of which is just around the corner (points to the window towards Lausanne’s Vaudoise Arena, editor), Switzerland has excellent infrastructure. That is why World Cup events and regular World Championships take place every year.

That was exactly the approach, that all locations have experience with large events. But that was not enough for the IOC.
Switzerland brings a lot to the table. The infrastructure, the experience with the organization, but also the great economic, political and administrative stability. All this is now combined with what makes the Olympic Games unique. In other words, it must be a very intelligent project that can bring good things to Swiss society, but also to the Olympic movement.

Was Switzerland just a bait for other countries?
What do you mean?

When the IOC had no applications for 2030 for a long time, Switzerland was given the opportunity to organize the games in a new form without gigantism. Then Sweden and France jumped on board and suddenly there was a choice.
It didn’t work that way at all. There were always casual conversations with Switzerland because there were always projects in the past. In December 2022, the Executive Committee asked us to reconsider the strategic direction of the Winter Games, taking into account the effects of climate change. At that time we only had Salt Lake City for 2030 or 2034. We then called on anyone interested in playing under the new conditions to contact us. Switzerland was one of these parties, along with Sweden, France and Salt Lake City. We are now conducting a targeted dialogue with two of these parties and a privileged dialogue with Switzerland.

But a lot still needs to be done in Switzerland by 2027.
Switzerland has called its vision “203X”. With the X, Switzerland has always indicated that it is open to later games. The fact that Switzerland could also imagine 2038 from the start was an important reason for introducing the privileged dialogue. By 2027, Switzerland must first look again at the master plan, clarify the detailed questions and logic for each of the clusters and be very clear about the budget of the organizing committee, but also about the public resources needed to support this, especially for the safety.

Our political system does not allow a president as powerful as Emanuel Macron in France, who single-handedly promises state guarantees. Would the IOC therefore prefer to hold a referendum in Switzerland to gain clarity?
The fact that people in our country regularly go to the polls is the greatest strength of Swiss democracy. We now have until 2027 to revise the master plan for the Swiss project. Some of this obviously involves public resources, especially when it comes to safety. Such a large project needs support from the population. It must suit the citizens of the country. If a referendum is needed, the project will face it. The Winter Games would enrich Switzerland enormously.

But you know the long history of losing the Olympic votes in Switzerland. Do you personally really believe that this time it would be different?
I only comment here from my IOC role. But in this case I can also say personally that I am absolutely convinced that the great benefits of games can be conveyed with the right arguments. I’ve been here for 25 years now. There have always been cities and countries with an interest in gaming. For example, we already have more than ten cities and regions interested in the 2036 Summer Games. There must be attractive reasons for this interest.

I’m sure you’ll mention it right away.
The Olympic Games offer fantastic opportunities. First of all, economically. Let’s take Paris 2024. The budget of 4.3 billion euros is privately financed. This money ends up in the regional economy. This will trigger numerous projects that will benefit Paris society. Especially the north, which is quite a difficult place. There are new jobs and infrastructure. Another example: For 30 years, countless mayors in Paris have promised that it would be possible to swim in the Seine again. But only now with the Olympic Games does it become possible.

The Swiss project included a largely privately funded budget of 1.5 billion euros, but the financing was criticized by the IOC. Why?
We have not criticized private financing. However, we said in the report that the guarantees for the games need to be reviewed. This is a very important point.

In other words, should the state step up in the event of an emergency? But this is politically controversial in Switzerland.
This guarantee does not necessarily have to be financial in nature. What matters is that the games can actually take place in their final form. This is a normal process. You must understand that we need such a guarantee, because the Winter Games are also a billion-dollar investment for the IOC. We’re talking about $722 million in 2030 that will flow into the games themselves. Plus the costs of 250 to 300 million covered by the IOC for the production of the moving images and other benefits in kind. But the Swiss project also involves public money, especially for the Paralympic Games. However, from an economic perspective there is something else very interesting.

Narrate.
I return to the Paris budget of 4.3 billion. The OECD (international economic organization, editor) will calculate the added value resulting from this. But there is already an estimate of seven to nine billion euros. We do not yet know whether it will actually be this number. But the enormous economic impact is clear. All this also leads to additional tax revenues.

Now people are talking about 2038, but the Olympic Games could come to Switzerland as early as 2026. When St. Moritz takes over the Milan-Cortina rink races, where the IOC is pushing for a solution outside Italy. What’s the status there?
The IOC’s opinion is clear. We want a meaningful legacy, especially for ice rink buildings, for the time after the Games. We did not hear any arguments about this in Cortina. That is why we said that it is a logical step to use a functioning bobsleigh and toboggan track abroad. The Italian authorities are now further considering projects in the country (reactivation of the Turin railway line 2006 in Cesena, editor). It is unclear what will emerge from the talks, but we are sticking to our guns. We will know where the races will take place at the end of January.

Source : Blick