The Swiss resort where a devastating New Year's Eve bar fire killed 40 people has been put forward as a proposed venue for the 2038 Winter Olympic Games.
Olympic Ambition Amidst Tragedy
On Monday 12 January 2026, the Swiss Olympic committee announced it is in "privileged dialogue" with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) regarding a bid for the 2038 Winter Olympics. The proposed bid features a "decentralised" model, spreading events across various Swiss regions.
Central to the Alpine skiing plans is the resort of Crans-Montana. This is the same location where, on 31 December 2025, a fire at the Le Constellation ski bar claimed the lives of 40 people during a New Year's celebration. Prosecutors recently requested the pre-trial detention of one of the bar's managers in connection with the incident.
A Legacy of Hosting and a Bid for the Future
Switzerland has a storied history with the Winter Games, having hosted them twice before in St Moritz in 1928 and 1948. The national committee has secured exclusive rights to pursue the 2038 bid until 2027.
Ruth Metzler-Arnold, President of Swiss Olympic, emphasised the national support for the project. "The sports federations, from winter and summer sports, Olympic and non-Olympic, want the 2038 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games to be held in Switzerland," she stated.
She added that the federations recognise the "lasting impact" of such an event, describing it as a "guiding star" that inspires a generation of athletes and the wider public.
Moving Forward
The proposal marks a significant step for Switzerland's Olympic ambitions, aiming to bring the Games back to the country after nearly a century. The inclusion of Crans-Montana, a site of recent profound tragedy, adds a complex layer to the narrative of the bid, intertwining future sporting hopes with past sorrow.
The focus now will be on the continued dialogue with the IOC and the development of the detailed decentralised plans, with Alpine skiing currently earmarked for the Valais resort.
