Switzerland’s dream of hosting the 2030 Winter Olympics looks certain to be over, leaving the Alpine nation with the consolation of a shot at the 2038 Games.

On Friday there was great confidence in the Swiss camp: Swiss Olympic unanimously voted in favor of pursuing the Olympic plans for 2030.

The chances for a decentralised, nationwide and sustainable Games in accordance with the new concept of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) were assessed as realistic.

But the next step, entering into the so-called “targeted dialogue” with the IOC, has now become an insurmountable hurdle. ...