Heerenveen will welcome the Olympic speed skating competition in 2030, effectively bringing a part of the Winter Games to the Netherlands from Lyon.
AD, a Dutch news outlet, reports on the plans for the 2030 Winter Olympics to hold speed skating events in Heerenveen’s Thialf arena, despite the Games being officially hosted by France.
The unique arrangement for the 2030 Winter Olympics involves holding the speed skating competitions in Heerenveen, effectively turning the Dutch city into a French enclave for these events. While the Games remain the French Winter Olympics, organizers emphasize it will be a distinctly Dutch celebration in collaboration with France.
This approach allows the speed skating events to take place in a venue renowned for its strong tradition in the sport, providing an authentic setting and enthusiastic atmosphere while linking the broader Winter Games to their official French hosts in Lyon, approximately 1000 kilometers away.
