Swiss gear up for possible 2026 Winter Games bid

The champagne bubbles have only just settled after Lausanne was chosen to host the 2020 Winter Youth Olympics, but already Swiss sports officials are looking ahead to a possible bid for the much larger Winter Games in 2026.  On Friday July 31 the city of Lausanne, known locally as the Olympic Capital because it’s home to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and numerous other international sports federations, was chosen to host the 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games after a vote by IOC members in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.  Although much smaller (budget of CHF37 million) than the traditional Winter Games, the chance to host the third edition of the Winter Youth Olympics, an international multi-sport event and cultural festival for 1,200 young people aged 15-18, is hugely significant for the Swiss.  These will be the first Winter Olympics to be held in Switzerland since 1948 in St Moritz. Previous attempts to galvanise local interest have all failed over fears about ...