The battle for the 2030 Winter Games is heating up. Finally. Less than seven years from the event, and one year from the IOC's alleged decision during the Paris 2024 Games session, it was time.

After the surprise announcement of the entry on the scene of a French project supported by two regions – Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Provence-Alpes-Côté d’Azur – Switzerland is in turn picking up the pace.

Since announcing his desire to join the “ dialogue phase » with the IOC, at the end of last March, nothing had filtered out about the progress of the file. Obviously, he is moving forward. According to national media, it is even taking a fairly new direction.

An internal letter from the national Olympic committee (Swiss Olympic), consulted by the German-speaking daily Tages Anzeiger, reveals that the 2030 project would benefit from strong support, uncommon for a Swiss Olympic candidacy: the Federal Councilor and Minister of Sports, Viola Amherd.

Very discreet since the announcement of the Swiss desire to join the battle, the centrist vice-president of the Confederation has decided not only to support the project, but also to make it known.

Its spokesperson, Renato Kalbermatten, confirmed: “ Federal Councilor Amherd has a fundamentally positive attitude towards efforts to organize large-scale, sustainable Games tailored to Switzerland. She is convinced that international events can trigger lasting changes in society and the economy. »

So far, nothing very spectacular. But support from the top of the state for an Olympic candidacy is rare in Switzerland. Above all, it appears to be a green light given to Swiss Olympic to continue working on its file. The body is currently working on a feasibility study. It will be presented in September at its general assembly.

Behind the scenes, Swiss Olympic is increasing discussions with the main players, including the sports federations involved in the Winter Games.

According to Tages Anzeiger, their elected officials would have made the decision to form a common front to support the project. At the head of the procession, the president of Swiss Ski, former downhill world champion Urs Lehmann.

The internal letter from Swiss Olympic points the finger at this: “ The involvement of Olympic winter sports federations from the start has never happened before. »

Another new feature: the Swiss project would no longer be carried out by a canton. It would be national and could concern the entire country. The system could bring together sites as emblematic as the Saint-Moritz station, the Lauberhorn downhill slope, and the Crans-Montana station.

A more well-known refrain: the file would rely on already existing equipment. It would be inexpensive and durable.

There remains one box to fill: a leader to carry the project. At this stage, the names cited tend to come from the political sphere. The Swiss daily notably mentions the Lucerne state councilor of the Radical Democratic Party (PRD), Damian Müller, president of the Equestrian Sports Association, and the former Aargau state councilor of the Socialist Party, Pascale Bruderer. Both are sometimes presented as credible options to succeed Jürg Stahl, the current president of Swiss Olympic.

Playable ? For sure. After eight often very painful failures in the race for the Winter Games over the last four decades, Switzerland still believes in it. Like Sweden and France, his project was not planned. But, like their two European rivals, the Swiss have understood that “ launch window " had probably never been so wide open.