2030 Olympics: Val d'Isère votes to be on the map, without "direct" funding

The adoption of the resolution, by a very large majority, comes after two years of negotiations between the Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Cojop) and the municipality.

Initially excluded from the list of potential venues for the 2030 Games, Val d'Isère was reinstated in July, replacing Méribel. It could host the technical alpine skiing events (giant slalom, slalom) on the legendary Face de Bellevarde slope. The final list will not be available until June.

"We have a date with history and sport is in our DNA," said Mayor Patrick Martin during a town council meeting on Monday, broadcast on YouTube, recalling that the resort is "a land of champions, major sporting events and alpine innovations."

During the negotiations, the municipality focused on "reconciling the Olympic ambition with the guarantee of not altering public finances," he recalled.

This led to a "firm commitment from the Organizing Committee," he said: there will be "no direct funding from the municipality," except for "a possible payment" if the Critérium, the annual Alpine Ski World Cup event organized by Val d'Isère, is cancelled in December 2029 due to the Olympics. "This contribution will not constitute a direct cost for the municipality, since it will compensate for the lost expenditure resulting from the cancellation of the Critérium."

As for the rest, "the mobilization of the Commune's resources will be carried out within the limits of the community's means" and "additional needs related to the scale of the event will be contracted directly by the Cojop," he added without giving any figures.

He merely recalled that the "face-to-face" building, a real estate project of the municipality, already planned before the bid for the 2030 Olympics, "will be a considerable asset in the organization of the Olympic event".

In a statement, the Cojop "very welcomes the vote of the Val d'Isère municipal council" which it says is part of "a collective and concerted dynamic with all the partner territories".

"With the strength of this decision obtained by a very large majority, the entire Avaline community declares its enthusiasm and commitment to joining this great adventure," commented Cojop President Edgar Grospiron.