Thialf in Netherlands Becomes Sole Candidate for 2030 Olympic Speed Skating
The organizing committee for the 2030 Winter Olympics, hosted in the French Alps, has selected Thialf in Heerenveen, Netherlands, as the exclusive candidate to host Olympic speed skating events. This decision follows the elimination of Turin’s Oval Lingotto, which required significant renovations. France lacks indoor artificial ice rinks and sought a cost-effective, sustainable solution aligned with new International Olympic Committee (IOC) guidelines that discourage expensive new infrastructure. Although Thialf is geographically distant from the main Alpine venues and faced criticism from athletes concerned about diluting the Olympic atmosphere, it offers immediate readiness without major investment. The French delegation has entered final financial negotiations with Dutch partners, including the NOC-NSF and local authorities. The IOC is expected to make the final approval in June 2026. If approved, this arrangement would mark a unique cross-border collaboration for the Games, allowing France to host the Winter Olympics while leveraging existing Dutch facilities for speed skating, thereby reducing overall costs and environmental impact.
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