DistantNews
Support us
🇳🇱 Netherlands /Elections & Politics

Olympic speed skating in 2030 to the Netherlands - Thialf now the sole remaining candidate

From NRC Handelsblad · () Dutch

Translated from Dutch and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • The 2030 Winter Olympics figure skating competition is likely to be held in Heerenveen, Netherlands, at the Thialf arena.
  • The French organizing committee has entered final financial negotiations with the Netherlands, excluding Turin, Italy as a candidate.
  • France lacks suitable indoor ice rinks and will rely on an international venue for the speed skating events.

The Netherlands is on the cusp of hosting a significant portion of the 2030 Winter Olympics, with the Thialf arena in Heerenveen poised to stage the speed skating events. This potential brings the Olympic spirit back to the nation, over a century after Amsterdam hosted the Summer Games in 1928.

While the main events will unfold in the French Alps, the decision to bring Olympic speed skating to the Netherlands underscores Thialf's global reputation as a premier venue. France's lack of adequate indoor ice facilities necessitated this international collaboration, a move supported by the International Olympic Committee.

This development is particularly exciting for Dutch speed skating enthusiasts and athletes. Thialf has a rich history in the sport, and hosting Olympic medals would be a momentous occasion. The negotiations with the French organizing committee signal a strong likelihood of this dream becoming a reality, cementing the Netherlands' place in the 2030 Winter Games.

We want the Games in the Alps to be something fantastic, and that we use the enormous potential of the region. And perhaps even further.

· Edgar GrospironPresident of the French organizing committee, commenting on the option of holding skating events in Thialf.
About this summary

Originally published by NRC Handelsblad in Dutch. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

More Stories

From Our Blog