Sweden’s Failed Winter Olympics Bids: Is There a Cultural Factor at Play?
Sweden has attempted to host the Winter Olympics nine times, only to be rejected each time. With the International Olympic Committee struggling to find options for 2030 and facing a time crunch, Sweden was given an opportunity to bid for the games in January. Despite widespread support from local and national government, businesses, and sports organizations, the bid was ultimately unsuccessful.
Swedish Olympic Committee President Hans von Uthmann expressed his disappointment at the repeated failures, questioning whether the Swedish approach is incompatible with the IOC’s expectations. He highlighted the sustainability of Sweden’s bid, contrasting it with the winning bid, which proposed building new facilities.
One of the sticking points in the bid process was the IOC’s demand for financial guarantees at an earlier stage. Von Uthmann raised the possibility of a cultural factor at play, suggesting that Sweden’s reserved nature and adherence to its values may have impacted the bid’s success.
Despite the setbacks, Von Uthmann remains hopeful and is focusing on strengthening relations between elite sports in Sweden. As Switzerland gains consideration for hosting in 2038, the earliest opportunity for Sweden would be in 2046.