We are creating Winter Games that are economically, socially and environmentally sustainable because we are thinking about and approaching it in a new way, because the conditions here are ideal, and because we Swiss can do it.

Switzerland’s huge capacity for innovation, combined with the tradition and mass appeal of the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, is perfect for designing a sustainably organised and implemented event that makes a contribution to society far beyond the duration of the Winter Games themselves and the world of sport.

The long lead time and planning period will also enable us to incorporate modern challenges and developments such as digitalisation and AI, finances, demographic trends, energy transition and climate change into strategic planning thanks to our sustainable mindset, and hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games could in itself serve as a driving force. To achieve this, we will need to follow our own innovative approaches but also learn from projects such as Brisbane 2032, which saw partnerships being formed between the government, business and venues to implement climate protection projects that promote renewable energies and reduce carbon emissions.

Above all, decentralised Winter Games also mean conserving resources. An approach like this allows us to make use of existing infrastructure. This firstly means greater environmental sustainability and secondly lower overall costs – and, above all, that the public sector will only need to provide a limited amount of funding. A look at the last decade shows that Switzerland already has the infrastructure it needs for 2038. Since 2023, Switzerland has hosted numerous globally relevant sporting events, including world and European championships in ten of the fourteen Olympic winter sports disciplines. Lausanne also successfully hosted the Winter Youth Olympic Games in 2020. During the 2020s, Switzerland has therefore positioned itself as a genuine ‘world winter sports hub’ in the international spotlight. After all, Switzerland has made huge investment in its sporting infrastructure in recent decades, both as part of and unrelated to major events. Additionally, the IOC has scrapped its specifications regarding spectator capacity. Any potential Swiss candidature would consistently adhere to this principle of resizing; this would be in keeping with our limited geographical space with the best public transport connections in the world and also help contribute to a low-emission Winter Games.