Personnel disputes within the organizing committee, sponsorship issues, and delays in preparations: four years before the next Winter Games, the problems faced by host nation France are overshadowing the joy of France's record haul of 23 Olympic medals at Milan/Cortina.
Divided organizing committee
Following the departure of three other executives, media reports suggest that CEO Cyril Linette is also set to leave due to "insurmountable differences of opinion" with committee president Edgar Grospiron.
While his departure has not yet been officially confirmed, there are indications that the president himself may also be replaced, according to the L'Équipe and Le Parisien newspapers.
According to Le Parisien, French President Emmanuel Macron is applying pressure and has set a deadline of March 15 for the establishment of a functioning organizing committee.
"We want to organize exciting and spectacular games," Grospiron said at the conclusion of the 2026 Games on Sunday.
"We have the organizational experience from 2024 (Summer Olympics in Paris). That helps us get into a rhythm quickly and ensure that we will be ready in time," said the 1992 Olympic men's freestyle skiing moguls champion, referring to delays.
About the personnel problems, he said: "We need stability, calm, and continuity in the organizing committee, then we will be able to successfully implement the Games."
There is little time and a tight financial framework, "but we know that we can do it."
Venues yet to be chosen
The allocation of competitions to venues in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes regions has not yet been finalized.
The concept envisages the use of almost exclusively existing competition venues, spread across four main regions stretching from Lake Geneva and the northern Alps to the Mediterranean in the south.
The framework plan includes the bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track in La Plagne, the ski jumping hill in Courchevel, and the Roc de Fer alpine skiing course in Méribel. The winter sports resort of Annecy-Le Grand Bornand is set to host the biathlon competitions.
All ice sports except speed skating are planned to take place in Nice, with speed skating to be held outside France to avoid the construction of a new sports facility.
The alternative venues are Turin in Italy and Heerenveen in the Netherlands.
"That's not for the organizing committee to decide. We have to implement what the regions and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) have decided and make it a fantastic Games," Grospiron said.
He added that 85% of the competition venues are already set. However, the competition program hast not yet been finalized.
"We need a decision from the IOC by June. We're also working with the international federations on this," Grospiron said.
Delays in sponsorship deals
The 2030 Olympics organizers are also behind schedule with the sponsorship contracts, which are expected to contribute to the budget of around €3.4 billion ($4.01 billion).
According to the organizers, the first partner will be announced in the coming weeks.
However, German broadcaster RTL reported that one interested company cited slow planning as the reason for the delays. In the end, though, the company said, they will come to an agreement.