The Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana, which was the scene of a fatal bar fire on New Year’s Day, is set to host the Alpine ski races at the 2038 Olympics.
Less than a fortnight after the blaze at the Le Constellation that killed 40 and injured 116 other people, officials for the bid have said that the municipality is a key site in their proposals for the Games in 12 years’ time.
Switzerland has been granted privileged status by the International Olympic Committee, which means no other country will be allowed to bid while it finalises its proposal. Barring an unexpected development, therefore, it will host the 2038 Games.
On Monday organisers confirmed that Crans-Montana would stage events as part of its plan to host competitions across the country in 12 years’ time in order to avoid taxpayer spending on construction.
The decision does not come as a complete surprise given that Crans-Montana also will host the world championships in Alpine skiing next year, as well as World Cup races in three weeks’ time before the Milan-Cortina Olympics.
The bar’s owner and his wife are facing a number of potential charges, including “manslaughter by negligence”, from the fire, which is alleged to have started in the basement when sparklers came into contact with soundproofing foam installed on the ceiling.
Last week the Swiss skier Camille Rast dedicated her World Cup giant slalom victory to the victims of the fire. Rast tapped the black mourning band on her left upper arm twice after her win and said: “This week, in my home town, there was a tragic accident and I think about those families. We race for them.”
The bobsleigh in 2038 is expected to be staged at St Moritz, while ski jumping will be in Engelberg and biathlon at Lenzerheide. Ice hockey would be played at stadiums in Zurich and Zug, with some games going to Lugano to include the country’s Italian-speaking region.
Meanwhile Lausanne, the IOC’s home city, will host the opening ceremony, figure skating and short-track skating for what will be the first Winter Games in Switzerland since the 1948 St Moritz Olympics. The capital, Bern, is slated for the closing ceremony.
Elsewhere Geneva will stage speed skating and curling – using the Palexpo complex that has staged Davis Cup tennis and an annual equestrian jumping meeting – and be the base for international broadcasters.
