In June 2024, the City of Lausanne will celebrate the 30th anniversary of its designation as Olympic Capital. As the only City in the world to hold this status, what are the implications for Lausanne?  

This is a source of great pride for our city and its citizens. This status makes the name of Lausanne shine throughout the world. It symbolises the close relationships that we have built over time with the IOC, as well as with all international sports federations and organisations. It is a continuing dialogue that is always growing stronger! We have created, with the Canton of Vaud, the Lausanne Olympic Capital Foundation, which serves as the main contact for the international sports actors. The Foundation listens and responds to their needs in a detailed and qualitative manner. We also remain very active in sports governance meetings, such as the annual Forum of International Federations or the WADA symposium. We have hosted the YOG Lausanne 2020, and since then we have organised an Olympic qualification competition in skateboarding. We have secured the hosting of the FIBA ​​Under-19 Basketball World Cup in 2025, and the European Figure Skating Championships in 2027. We are also hosting ski mountaineering events, a new discipline of the Olympic program. At a more local level, being an Olympic Capital is also a valuable lever for developing public policies in all dimensions of sport for the benefit of local clubs and associations, athletes, and the entire Lausanne population.

The IOC has been established in Lausanne for almost 110 years. The Olympic Capital, Lausanne also became an Olympic City in 2020, hosting the YOG. How is the relationship between the City and the IOC evolving and developing?

I would like to emphasize the excellent relations we have with the IOC. The basis for this relationship is a common vision of sport and the central role it plays in people’s lives. We know its benefits in the field of health, but sport is also an important lever to support changes in society.Take equality in sport as an example. Seeing female athletes and women’s teams will inspire young girls say to themselves “I can do it too”. And this is even more important in disciplines which are traditionally viewed as masculine. We collaborate with many IOC-related organisations, such as the Olympic Refuge Foundation. We are proud to welcome the World Union of Olympic Cities to Lausanne. These different platforms allow for exchanges and sharing of experiences which will inspire other cities for the development of public policies or for the organisation of sporting events. I am thinking, for example, of the experiments implemented during the Lausanne 2020 YOG on the movement of athletes between sites by public transport. I would also like to point out that local roots have always been essential for the IOC. This allows us to cultivate links that are sometimes more informal. For example, for several years, every 23 June on International Olympic Day, we have held an open “fun” race, in which President Bach regularly participates.

How would you describe the unique international sports ecosystem in Lausanne?

It is extremely rich and varied! It brings together actors from very different worlds, ranging from sport to culture, including the Olympic Cities network, and the academic and economic world. The IOC and international federations are at the heart of this ecosystem. There is also the International Testing Agency (ITA), the CAS, the AMA… On the research side, we have internationally renowned universities. Numerous projects and collaborations have emerged with international federations. On the cultural side, the Olympic Museum, which celebrated its 30th anniversary, is a magnificent calling card for our foreign guests. It is also one of the obligatory stops when visiting Lausanne! This ecosystem is anchored in Lausanne life. Moreover, whether it is the IOC or the sports federations, we feel the desire to strengthen links with citizens and local sports clubs. With the Lausanne Olympic Capital Foundation, our objective is to consolidate this ecosystem, bring it to life and strengthen it by welcoming new bodies.

What celebrations are planned for June 2024 and for the rest of the year?

The celebrations will be sporting, cultural, public, and festive! Many free events will punctuate the anniversary week, from 13 to 23 June. These 30 years will be a great way to remember that the Olympic Capital is a city where sport is an art of living, for the entire population, regardless of age, gender, or origin. The theme of the end-of-year school celebrations is Sport & Olympism. For those who love challenges, we will be holding an original relay race. Six mixed relay teams, each made up of around 70 people, will have to run around 5.6 km and 300 meters of elevation gain in just under 20 minutes… if they want to beat the metro! The public will be able to attend a concert which will combine classical music and urban dances in a nod to the Paris Olympics where breakdancing will be an Olympic discipline! With the IOC and the Canton of Vaud authorities, we will also inaugurate the final location on which the Olympic cauldron for the YOG Lausanne 2020 will be installed. It will take place on the shores of the lake in a sports area, with open, free access. This “Fair-Play Space” is very popular with people of all ages. It is a symbolic place that recalls the state of mind and the values ​​​​that were at the forefront of the Lausanne 2020 YOG. For the rest, you can discover the entire program on the dedicated website! In autumn, the World Union of Olympic Cities will hold a special edition of the smartcities & sport summit in Lausanne dedicated to federations and city-federation partnerships. I look forward to seeing you there!

Who are the partners involved in this ten-day programme of celebrations?

There are so many that it is impossible to list them all! This is the magic of sport: bringing together different players around the same objective!

What is the vision of Lausanne as Olympic capital for the next 10… or 30 years?

As I said, sport is a fantastic lever to support profound changes in our societies. It imparts strong values, such as respect and solidarity, which are conducive for meeting and dialogue. This is what we must continue to cultivate and promote as the Olympic Capital with the IOC and with all international, national, and local sporting stakeholders.