2030 Olympics: investments down after the transfer of the ice events to Lyon

This is a welcome rebate in the often inflationary context of Olympic budgets. The investments planned in the infrastructure of the 2030 Olympic Games have been revised significantly downwards, in particular due to the transfer of the ice center from Nice to Lyon, a site which will not require the construction of new equipment, Solideo, responsible for delivering the Olympic works, indicated on Thursday October 1.

During a board meeting, the public establishment validated its new financial framework for the next Winter Games, i.e. all the costs and financing associated with each operation - development of competition sites, villages for athletes or priority access routes.

In January, the investments necessary for the forty works planned for these Winter Games were estimated at 1.4 billion euros, including a public contribution of 869 million distributed between the State, the two host regions (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes) and other communities. A little more than 500 million euros were to be provided at the same time by private operators, mainly real estate developers.

More than 200 million euros of public money saved

But, in the spring, the map of sites was turned upside down: the organizers of the Games had decided to quickly repatriate the ice events to Lyon after the refusal of the new mayor of Nice, Eric Ciotti, boss of the UDR, an ally of the RN, to install a temporary ice rink in the Baie des Anges football stadium.

On Thursday, Solideo indicated that following this reshuffle, total investments for the works were now planned at 961 million euros, or some 445 million less. In detail, "the overall envelope for public assistance now amounts to 665 million euros, a drop of 204 million", according to a press release.

“Obviously, there will be a little less heritage, particularly sporting heritage”

Damien Robert, general director of Solideo Alpes 2030

"The financial model is tightening. We have taken into account the abandonment of the Nice 'cluster' (site), which obviously has a significant financial impact: the biggest change is the fact that the Nice sports complex, 100% financed by the public and which was by far the most expensive work (estimated at around 200 million euros), has been abandoned", summarized Damien Robert, general director of Solideo, to AFP.

In the end, the project "will cost less for public finances, whether local or national. Obviously, there will be a little less heritage, particularly sporting", without the construction of the Nice complex, added Mr. Robert.