The 2030 Winter Olympics will feature speed skating competitions in Heerenveen, Netherlands, marking the return of the Winter Games to the country after more than a century.
De Telegraaf, a Dutch news outlet, reports on this development.
The announcement confirms that while most of the 26th Winter Olympics will be held in and around Nice and the French Alps, the speed skating events will take place at Thialf in Heerenveen in February 2030. This decision was made following a recommendation by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which concluded that Thialf is the most suitable venue for the ice skating competitions, partly because France lacks an appropriate indoor ice rink. The French organisers opted against building a new ice hall due to high costs and also dismissed alternatives such as converting facilities in nearby Turin.
Thialf has been a significant venue in speed skating since its opening in 1986, renowned worldwide for its atmosphere and capacity to host major European and World Championships. The selection of Heerenveen ensures that athletes like Femke Kok, who trained at Thialf, will compete for Olympic titles at a familiar venue. However, some athletes have expressed concerns about the arrangement. Norwegian skater Pedr Kongshaug questioned the priority given to long-track speed skating by the IOC, while Dutch skater Marijke Groenewoud noted that competing so far from the main Olympic sites might lessen the traditional Olympic experience.
Thialf’s director, Minne Dolstra, emphasized the venue’s commitment to providing an authentic Olympic atmosphere, including plans for an Olympic village to keep athletes united. Efforts to promote Thialf as a sustainable and environmentally friendly venue have been central to the successful bid. The Dutch Olympic Committee (NOC*NSF) actively supported the initiative, recognizing the challenges posed by climate change in organizing compact Winter Games.
The considerable distance between the main French Olympic sites and Heerenveen has been accepted by officials, drawing parallels to recent Olympic Games where events were held across separate locations. For example, the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo were split by hours of travel, and the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles will include events taking place in Oklahoma City, much farther away.
Representatives from the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, the mayor of Heerenveen, the province of Friesland, Thialf management, and the Dutch skating federation (KNSB) plan to hold a press conference at Thialf to provide further details about the preparations.
