Several discussions over the 2030 Winter Olympics bid have underscored a widening gap between what the Spanish Olympic Committee seeks and what can be agreed upon. The COE appears ready to pause new talks about a joint nomination, signaling a potential shift in strategy as Aragon faces a looming deadline. With time pressing, Alejandro Blanco has decided to close the dialogue and present a formal proposal to the International Olympic Committee, inviting any party interested in joining the effort to participate in the next steps.
In the forthcoming proposal, two Alpine sites in Aragon were put forward as non-negotiables for the skating and ski segments, while a cross-country venue was planned for Formigal. The plan would relocate figure skating away from Zaragoza, resulting in 55 events scheduled in Aragon and 41 in Catalonia. Key figures involved included Victor Francos, Secretary General of Culture and Sports for the Spanish government; Laura Vilagrà, the government’s advisor; Felipe Faci, Aragon’s regional councillor; and Alejandro Blanco, head of the COE. The discussion centered on where events would take place and how the schedule would be structured, with the emphasis on non-negotiable commitments from the Aragon side.
During the hour-and-a-half session, the balance of progress appeared fragile. Aragon’s insistence on fixed skating and alpine disciplines, coupled with the lack of a breakthrough agreement, led Blanco to conclude the meeting and outline that the COE would submit its own, independent proposal. Government sources in Aragon indicated that the European Committee had effectively ended talks on a joint candidacy and signaled an intent to pursue a technical bid instead. The Generalitat, for its part, stressed that agreements should be respected and that changes to the existing plan could be explored if Aragon opted out of the technical framework. There was a clear push from Catalonia to keep options open, including the possibility of a standalone Catalan Games, should a broader agreement prove infeasible. The sentiment was clear: speed matters, and the Games are the priority. (Source: IOC and regional statements)
The International Olympic Committee had previously shown optimism about Barcelona reclaiming its Olympic status and the Pyrenees hosting the first Winter Games. Yet ten months after a formal letter was sent to the COE indicating interest in Catalonia hosting, no concrete accord had been reached between Catalonia and Aragon. This pause reflects deeper questions about governance, regional autonomy, and the logistical realities of staging a Games that would rely on multi-region collaboration. The IOC leadership acknowledged the complexity of coordinating a bid of this scale, while still signaling receptivity to ideas that might yield a viable path forward for a joint or single-region bid. (Source: IOC communications)
Looking ahead, the IOC president is scheduled to visit Barcelona on 1 June. There will be scrutiny of the COE position as Blanco is expected to either confirm the Spanish candidacy or request additional time to finalize its plan. A formal briefing is anticipated at a subsequent press gathering, where more details on the next steps for the bid will be outlined. The course of action will hinge on whether Aragon and Catalonia can converge on a shared framework or whether one region chooses to advance independently. The broader goal remains clear: secure a successful, sustainable, and well-supported bid that resonates with both regional interests and Olympic objectives. (Source: IOC and COE statements)