French Public Supports 2030 Winter Olympics Amid Freestyle and Snowboard Team Challenges

A recent Odoxa survey conducted for Winamax and RTL reveals strong French public support for hosting the 2030 Winter Olympics, with 69% viewing it positively. Confidence remains high in the organizing committee, as 80% expect a smooth execution of the Games, and 74% believe it will enhance France's image internationally. Nonetheless, 55% of the public express concerns about governance issues, especially internal conflicts and political rivalries perceived to obstruct organizational effectiveness. Trust in committee president Edgar Grospiron has notably declined recently, with substantial drops in confidence from both the general population and winter sports enthusiasts.

Meanwhile, the disappointment from the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina lingers, as France's freestyle and snowboard teams secured only two bronze medals, falling short of their five to six medal goal. The absence of key athlete Tess Ledeux due to injury contributed to this underperformance. Directors Fabien Bertrand and Luc Faye emphasized the urgent need for improvements in training facilities and competition conditions ahead of the 2030 French Alps Games. Bertrand noted the promising potential of younger athletes, while Faye criticized the current snowboarding courses as lacking technical difficulty, calling for strategic reforms.

Together, these developments underline a nation both hopeful and cautious: buoyed by public enthusiasm and committed to better preparations to restore France's competitive edge on home snow in 2030.