
The New Zealand Olympic Committee has reportedly decided not to ask the New Zealand Government to do a full feasibility study on a 2026 Winter Olympic bid, according to Queenstown consultant Bruce McGechan, effectively shelving the Olympic Winter Games NZ 2026 project.
In May, an “Olympic Winter Games New Zealand 2026” pre-feasibility report written by McGechan found that hosting could be feasible and calculated significant net economic value to New Zealand.
Thomas Bach, head of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), also said that the cost of hosting the Olympics had been substantially reduced with the adoption of the Olympic Agenda 2020 report recommendations. He encouraged New Zealand to investigate hosting the Games during his visit last month.
The pre-feasibility study has now been passed to an Australian organization who will consider launching their own Olympic Winter Games feasibility project.
New Zealand could have been the first nation to host the Olympic Winter Games in the Southern Hemisphere. After two straight Winter Games in Asia, the 2026 host city will likely return be in Europe and cities from that region have been expressing interest since Agenda 2020 reforms have lowered the perceived costs of organizing the Games.
Four European cities dropped out the running of the 2022 Games Bid due to concerns over costs and other political issues. Almaty and Beijing remain, and one of those cities will be elected at an IOC Session next month.