Switzerland's bid for the 2038 Winter Games, selected last November by the IOC to continue the race in the targeted dialogue phase, has just ticked a new box on its roadmap. It has found itself a general director. His name: Frédéric Favre (photo above). Currently a state councillor for the canton of Valais, where he heads the department of security, institutions and sport, he will officially take up his duties on 1 May 2025. A former member of the Swiss karate team, then an ice hockey referee, Frédéric Favre sits on the executive committee for the 2027 Alpine Ski World Championships in Crans-Montana. He was above all vice-president of the Sion bid committee for the 2026 Winter Games, a project cut short in its tracks by a referendum held in June 2018, where the no vote to the bid won by a narrow majority. Frédéric Favre then supported the Switzerland 203x project from the beginning, as an advisor. Until he takes office, the Switzerland 2038 association will continue to be led by the co-presidency, composed of Ruth Wipfli Steinegger and Urs Lehmann.
