The next Winter Olympics, set to be hosted in the French Alps, will see the speed skating competitions taking place outside of France for the first time in the event's history. Edgar Grospiron, head of the organizing committee, confirmed that an agreement was reached with the International Olympic Committee prior to securing the Olympic bid to ensure that speed skating events would potentially occur elsewhere. This unusual decision is rooted in concerns over constructing facilities that may not have future use, as is the case with the speed skating oval.

Key locations for the upcoming games include Lyon for the opening ceremony, Nice for ice hockey and curling, and various venues in the Savoie Alps for snow sports. The strategy to host speed skating outside of France aligns with a broader goal of making the Olympics sustainable and tailored to the desires of the athletes and organizers alike. This decision is particularly significant as it highlights a shift towards flexible planning in Olympic preparations, aiming to prevent wasteful expenditures on unused facilities.

The Czech speed skater Metoděj Jílek, who recently secured gold and silver medals in Milan, will be one of the athletes affected by this historic change. At just 23 years old during the next Olympics, Jílek's participation in this unconventional setup demonstrates the evolving landscape of the Olympic Games, where the focus increasingly shifts towards both athlete welfare and environmental sustainability.