The speed skating events for the 2030 Winter Olympics in the French Alps may be relocated to Heerenveen, Netherlands.
According to the organizing committee, after evaluating the two backup options—Heerenveen and Turin—they have requested approval from management to begin “exclusive talks” with the operators of the renowned speed skating “Mecca” in the Dutch province of Friesland.
France explicitly bid for the Winter Games without a domestic oval ice rink and without any plans to build one. The possibility of holding Olympic speed skating competitions abroad was already part of the French candidacy.
Time is pressing for the French organizers to finalize all venues. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is expected to confirm the sites for all events by the end of next month. However, the host city for the ice hockey tournament and the distribution of Alpine skiing events have yet to be decided.