In a move blending future ambition with a tragic past, the Swiss Alpine resort of Crans-Montana has been selected as a proposed venue for the 2038 Winter Olympic Games. This comes just over a decade after a devastating New Year's Eve fire at a local bar claimed 40 lives and injured nearly 120 others.
Olympic Ambition and a Shadow of Tragedy
The Swiss Olympic committee has unveiled its decentralised plan for the 2038 Games, spreading events across various regions. Crans-Montana is earmarked to host the prestigious downhill skiing and snowboard competitions. This marks the first potential Olympic involvement for the resort, with Switzerland's previous Winter Games held in St Moritz in 1928 and 1948.
However, the announcement is cast against the backdrop of a profound local tragedy. In the early hours of January 1, 2024, a fire erupted at the Le Constellation bar during a New Year's party. The blaze killed 40 people and left nearly 120 injured, most with serious wounds. Investigators believe the disaster was triggered by a sparkler attached to a bottle, which ignited foam insulation on the ceiling.
Legal Proceedings and Victims Remembered
The legal fallout from the fire continues. A Swiss court recently ordered that one of the bar's co-owners, Jacques Moretti, remain in custody for a provisional period of three months. Prosecutors in the Valais canton had initially ordered his detention after a lengthy hearing involving him and his wife, Jessica.
Jessica Moretti's lawyers stated the court's decision could allow her husband to regain his freedom once conditions, such as a security deposit to counter flight risk, are met. They emphasised the couple's "unconditional commitment" to face the legal proceedings together.
The human cost of the fire was immense and international. Of the 40 victims, 21 were from Switzerland, seven from France, and six from Italy. A Swiss-French dual national and a French-British-Israeli citizen were also among the dead. Tragically, almost all were teenagers or young adults, with the youngest aged just 14. The Swiss Football Association confirmed that nine young Swiss footballers from regional clubs perished in the inferno.
The Road to the 2038 Swiss Winter Olympics
Switzerland is now in a strong position to host the 2038 Games, having been granted "privileged dialogue" status with the International Olympic Committee. The national committee holds exclusive rights to pursue the bid until 2027.
If confirmed, the Games would see Switzerland become the third European host in four cycles, following Milan-Cortina in 2026 and the French Alps in 2030. Salt Lake City is set to host in 2034. Other proposed Swiss venues include a refurbished 1948 St Moritz bobsleigh track, while ice hockey would be split between Zurich, Zug, and Lugano. Lausanne is currently being considered for the opening ceremony and Bern for the closing ceremony.
The selection of Crans-Montana ensures the memory of the 2024 fire and its victims will be intrinsically linked to the region's preparation for its moment on the global Olympic stage.
