The speed skating events in the 2030 Winter Olympics are likely to be held at the Dutch national arena in Thialf because the host nation, France, does not have a suitable stadium.

Marc van den Tweel, general manager of the Dutch Olympic committee NOC*NSF, told broadcaster NOS that talks with the organisers of the Games in the French Alps were going well.

The only other potential contender, Turin, the venue for the 2006 Winter Olympics, has dropped out of the running, leaving the way clear for the Netherlands to stage its first Olympic events since 1928 in the Frisian city of Heerenveen.

“I’d say don’t cheer too soon, but we’ve had good reports coming out of France that they want to keep talking with us about the long-track speed skating coming to the Netherlands in 2030,” Van den Tweel said.

The Dutch will need to satisfy French and Olympic authorities on a range of issues from the quality of the ice in the arena to setting up an athletes’ village and transport arrangements for spectators.

“Organising an event on the scale of the Winter Games requires a lot of money, time and energy, and a lot of things need to be arranged,” Van den Tweel said.

Other events in 2030 will be spread over a large area of southern France, with short track skating and ice dancing being held in Nice while the skiing will take place in French alpine resorts such as Val d’Isère.