Valais citizens divided over 2026 Winter Olympics bid
The bid by Sion would see events spread across the cantons of Valais, Vaud, Bern and Fribourg
Keystone
With canton Valais heading for a key June 10 vote on Sion’s 2026 Winter Olympics bid, an opinion poll shows the “yes” and “no” votes running neck and neck.
47% of people questioned said they would vote “no” on June 10, compared with 46% who said yes, according to a poll conducted by the M.I.S Trend InstituteExternal link for five regional media. Since the margin of error is 3%, the outcome of the vote is still impossible to predict.
The question being put to voters is whether canton Valais should allocate CHF100 million ($99.9 million) for the Sion 2026 Winter Olympics bid. Since funding is key, the outcome of the cantonal vote is likely to be decisive.
Supporters of the bid see the advantages in terms of international visibility, boosting tourism and renewal of infrastructure, the poll found. Those against cited mainly fears of budget overruns and debts. Some also expressed concerns about the potential negative effects on the environment.
The Swiss Olympic Committee and the Swiss government are backing a joint proposal by Sion, the capital of canton Valais, to host the 2026 Winter Games spread across the cantons of Valais, Vaud, Bern and Fribourg and based largely on existing infrastructure. Last October, the Swiss government promised to contribute almost CHF1 billion if it is chosen.
Popular Stories
More
Workplace Switzerland
Trump tariff shock: how Switzerland is positioning itself
What factors should be taken into account when inheriting Swiss citizenship abroad?
Should there be a limit to the passing on of Swiss citizenship? Or is the current practice too strict and it should still be possible to register after the age of 25?
Is your place of origin, your Heimatort, important to you?
Every Swiss citizen has a Heimatort, a place of origin, but many have never visited theirs. What’s your relationship with your Heimatort? What does it mean to you?
This content was published on
Swiss imports and exports reached new heights in the first quarter, driven by the chemicals and pharmaceuticals sectors. Shipments to the US rose sharply.
Italian in Switzerland accused of being Calabrian mafia henchman
This content was published on
The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland has charged an Italian resident of the Anello-Fruci 'Ndrangheta clan in the canton of Aargau.
Swiss CFOs have a pessimistic outlook due to trade wars
This content was published on
In the wake of the trade wars launched by US President Donald Trump, Swiss companies are assessing the future much more pessimistically.
Swiss parcel bomber had links to military and intelligence services
This content was published on
The 61-year-old man who admitted to being Patek Philippe's blackmailer in Geneva had connections in the police and the army.
IOC president expresses hopes for Swiss Olympic bid
This content was published on
“The debate is just beginning”, the IOC head told Swiss Public Television RTS, just one day after an opinion poll published in the Swiss media revealed that only 36% of respondents supported the so-called Sion 2026 campaign for the southern Swiss canton of Valais. + Swiss poll finds strong opposition to 2026 Winter Games “It’s…
This content was published on
The Swiss government pledged on Wednesday to throw its weight behind the Sion 2026 Winter Olympics bid, to the tune of almost CHF1 billion.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.