International Paralympic Committee (IPC) President Andrew Parsons has congratulated French Alps and Salt Lake City-Utah following their election as the host cities of the 2030 and 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games respectively.

As an IOC Member, Parsons was part of the election process at the 142nd IOC Session in Paris on 24 July 2024 in which both cities were awarded future editions of the Games.

Andrew Parsons, IPC President, said: “On behalf of the Paralympic Movement, I would like to send my congratulations to French Alps 2030 and Salt Lake City-Utah 2034. Both host cities present very different proposals and exciting opportunities for the Paralympic Movement in the years ahead.

“Coming 38 years after the Tignes-Albertville 1992 Paralympic Winter Games, French Alps 2030 plan financially and environmentally sustainable Games. Amongst other things, they propose a strong and attractive legacy plan to make winter sports accessible to everyone, especially persons with disabilities and young people.

“In the same way the French Alps 2030 Paralympic Winter Games will take place six years after the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, allowing us to capitalise on knowledge, experience and awareness, the Salt Lake City-Utah 2034 Paralympic Winter Games are set for six years after the LA28 Paralympic Games.

“Having two Games in quick succession in the US will help boost the Paralympic Movement’s profile in a market that offers a lot of potential for us.

“The 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will present a unique compact Games concept, while their project offers strong engagement with the Paralympic Games with an expansion of existing adaptive practices and Para competition facilities.”

In November 2023, the IOC Executive Board opened two Targeted Dialogues overseen by the Future Host Commission: one with the French Olympic and Paralympic Committees for the French Alps 2020, and the other with the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) for Salt Lake City-Utah 2024. The IOC analysed the strategic and technical aspects of both projects and consulted extensively with stakeholders, including the International Sports Federations (IFs), experts from across the IOC, and independent third-party sources.

Following recommendations by the Future Host Commission for the Olympic Winter Games, a group that includes former IPC Governing Board member and Paralympic Order recipient Rita van Driel, in June 2024 the IOC Executive Board put forward French Alps 2030 and Salt Lake City-Utah 2034 to the IOC session for election as hosts of the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

France has competed at every single edition of the Paralympic Winter Games dating back to Ornskoldsvik, Sweden, in 1976. In 13 editions of the Paralympic Winter Games, they have won 183 medals, 66 gold, placing them seventh in the historic medals table. 

USA’s first Paralympic Winter Games were in Geilo, Norway, in 1980.  The country is the second most successful winter sport nation, winning 335 Paralympic Winter Games medals, including 117 gold.