Less appetite for the Winter Olympics? (Part One)

In recent years, Norway and Sweden, both historical powerhouses in winter sports that possess the needed expertise and infrastructure, have repeatedly withdrawn from bidding for the Winter Olympic Games. Their successive withdrawals (notably Stockholm for 2022 and 2026, and Oslo for 2022) are explained by a combination of political, financial, and cultural factors that reflect growing distrust of the modern Olympic Games’ economic model. 

First and foremost are the budgetary pressure and the taxpayer role, the most direct reason for the withdrawal of several bids, including those of Stockholm and Oslo (both for 2022). These Nordic countries have robust social systems and a strong tradition of prudent management of public funds. Citizens and politicians are very skeptical about promises of long-term economic benefits. They fear that the Games would only drain resources for a fleeting event.

There was also a widespread rejection of "White Elephants”, these specific facilities like bobsleigh and luge tracks that have no use after the Games and which maintenance would fall on taxpayers, especially in view of the Games historical cost overruns. Unlike countries like Austria or France, the Scandinavian countries have a strong culture of citizen consultation for major public projects like the Olympic Games, where bids are typically met with weak popular support, or even outright rejection in key referendums or polls. Residents do not see any direct benefits on their quality of life. 

There’s also a rejection of elitism in an egalitarian country like Norway. The opulence, lavish spending, and "elitist" nature of the IOC's (International Olympic Committee) demands are poorly received by a population that values ​​simplicity and equality. Furthermore the demands of the IOC have been criticized in Scandinavian countries as they’re perceived as excessive and sometimes disconnected from local realities, an arrogance that I have always deplored. 

This explains why these withdrawals of Scandinavian countries are not due to a lack of capacity to host the Games, but to a political and ethical choice. They simply refuse to spend billions of euros of public money on an event whose benefits they believe do not justify the cost, the environmental impact, and the demands of the IOC, which they consider too elitist. 

All this Scandinavian story to match a similar developing situation in France, where I recently learned that there was a lot of discontent broiling about the 2030 Winter Olympic Games planned for the entire French Alps. Tomorrow, I’ll try to explain what it’s all about.