Switzerland is actively pursuing the opportunity to host the 2030 or 2034 Winter Olympic Games, with a unique focus on keeping the budget at a remarkably low $1.7 billion.
The Swiss Olympic Association is working diligently to gain the support of local sports federations by committing to a budget of 1.5 billion Swiss Francs, equivalent to $1.8 billion.
According to reports by Bloomberg, if Switzerland successfully orchestrates the Winter Olympic Games within this budget, it would mark the most economical Olympics in history.
The commitment to financial prudence comes in light of the fact that Swiss citizens have previously rejected three bids to host the Games, despite the International Olympic Committee being headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The significant financial investment required to host the event and secure long-term financial benefits has been a notable deterrent in the past.
The last Winter Olympics, hosted by China, initially had a budget of $1.6 billion, but the costs surged to $4.6 billion by the conclusion of the event. In comparison, the 2018 event in South Korea incurred a substantial expense of $15 billion.
Switzerland, having hosted the Winter Olympics in 1928 and 1948, has not yet hosted a Summer Olympics event.
The question now arises whether the Swiss population will opt to host the Winter Games for the third time, swayed by the unprecedented frugality of the proposed budget, or if concerns about the financial implications will prevail.