The snowy village atmosphere...

In the heart of mountains for a real winter atmosphere.

In the heart of Annecy, Chamonix and mountain villages for a festive atmosphere.

In the heart of people for a warm popular fervor (250000 spectators at the 2009 world championships, 135000 fans on facebook).

Biathlon at the heart of Le Grand-Bornand

In the heart of Annecy historical center for a festive atmosphere (ice events, cultural events in pedestrian olympic zone,opening closing and medals ceremonies).

In the heart of people for a warm popular fervor (30.000 people at the announcement of Annecy candidate city, 135.000 fans on facebook, 250.000 spectators at the 2009 world championships).

Freestyle skiing and snowboard just above Annecy...

Nordic events at the heart of Annecy mountains villages...

Ski jumping and cross country skiing at the heart of La Clusaz village

Biathlon at the heart of Le grand-Bornand village

Annecy never had a chance in 2018 Olympic race, admits former bid leader

January 11 - Edgar Grospiron, the former chief executive of the Annecy 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympic bid, has admitted that the French city was never going win the race to host the Games as it lacked support from the very beginning.

Grospiron, the Albertville 1992 Olympic moguls champion, was widely praised during his short time in charge of the French bid for keeping the city in the race with its two rivals, Pyeongchang and Munich, despite having far less resources.

But Grospiron resigned at the end of 2010 following a crisis meeting over the lack of finance available for the bid and was replaced by French businessman Charles Beigbeder for the last few months of the bid.

Beigbeder suffered humiliation when Annecy received only seven votes at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) vote in Durban last July as they were trounced by victors Pyeongchang, who claimed a clear majority in the first round of voting.

Annecy's seven votes represented the second lowest in recent history for either the Winter or Summer Games but Grospiron said that the city was never really in the race because it could not compete with the support that its rivals had.

"It was disappointing for us to lose such a great competition but the most disappointing thing was that we never properly reached out for that opportunity to organise the Games in the [French] Alps," Grospiron told insidethegames here, where he is serving as Chef de Mission for the French team at the Winter Youth Olympic Games.

"That is very sad for all of us that were involved.

"The real important thing is that you need support right from the beginning and we didn't have that in the proper way.

"If France wants to win an Olympic bid, we really have to work together and have full support from everybody right from the start.

"Everything needs to be in place at the very beginning with regard to finances, economic support, Government support and also local support from the people of the area.

"You need that as a minimum because the level of competition to host an Olympics is just so high.

"In Annecy, there definitely was support but maybe it was not at the high level that is needed for an Olympic bid.

"The competition for the 2018 Winter Olympics was very high and we just didn't compete with our rivals at that level.

"The Olympics deserves investments and expertise that we never offered.

"I did my job as best as I could while I was chief executive but in the end, I did what I had to do.

"A resignation is never easy but I felt it is what I had to do at that moment."

Grospiron, 42, dismisses claims that his resignation was the nail in the coffin for the Annecy bid and said that while such comments are flattering, he does not feel he deserves the plaudits.

"For my part, I don't think that an Olympic bid is handled by one person," he said.

"It is very kind of people to say that I was so important to the bid but I do not think I had such power to handle a bid on my shoulders alone.

"I did my very best but in the end, I left because I felt I had no real choice but to leave."

Moving forward, Grospiron says that France needs to learn the lessons of the Annecy failure before it can think about putting forward another Olympic bid.

It was the fourth unsuccessful campaign from the country to host the Olympics following the failures of Paris to win its bids to host the 1992, 2008 and 2012 Games, the latter being awarded to London when the French capital was the overwhelming favourite to win.

"For the moment, France doesn't have any strategy regarding a bid so we will have to wait and see," said Grospiron.

...

more at: insidethegames.biz

Annecy unveils new concept for 2018 Olympic bid

Thursday, 15 July 2010 16:36

July 15 - Annecy today revealed their new plan to host the 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, which they claim is more compact and meets the requirements of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The IOC had warned the French city last month that they risked being eliminated from the race, which also features Munich and Pyeongchang, if they did not come up with a new bid.

Following three weeks of frantic meetings, Annecy has now revealed that it will concentrate its bid around Annecy and Chamonix in the Mont Blanc Valley.

Edgar Grospiron, the chief executive of Annecy 2018, said: "We clearly heard the IOC’s message in the report published on June 22nd.

"With the relevant elected officials, we’re therefore making intense efforts to adjust our concept and to optimise its compactness."

All of the competitions will now take place in Annecy and Chamonix Mont-Blanc valley, two sites that are less than an hour away from one another and directly connected by the Games train and the motorway.

It is proposed that Annecy will host the skating and curling events, as well as the biathlon, cross-country skiing, ski jumping and Nordic combined in the nearby La Clusaz and Le Grand Bornand venues.

All of the Alpine skiing competitions and the ice hockey events will be held in at the foot of Mont Blanc in Chamonix, the host of the first ever Winter Olympics in 1924.

The bobsleigh, luge and bob skeleton will be held La Plagne, which also staged the events when Albertville hosted the 1992 Olympics.

As initially proposed, all the events for the Paralympic Games will be held in Annecy.

Grospiron said: "The coming weeks will be devoted to studies and to technical review, notably as to the location of the Olympic Village.

"One thing is certain, this new and simplified concept will provide everyone involved in the Olympic and Paralympic Games with a unique experience, at an exceptional competition venue that is filled with history.

"It is in this spirit that we have all now completely mobilised whilst looking ahead to the major deadline of 11 January 2011,

when we will provide our bid book to the IOC."

The plans were backed by Christian Monteil, the chairman of the Annecy 2018 Supervisory Board and chairman of the Haute-Savoie General Council, and Jean-Luc Rigaut, the Mayor of Annecy and bid co-chairman.

"More than ever, this bid is a project that aligns with the sporting, economic and environmental ambitions of the Savoie Mont Blanc territory," they said in a joint statement.

EuroNews realised a Focus on Annecy 2018 a few days ago

In the heart of Chamonix historical center for a festive atmosphere (cultural events in pedestrian olympic zone, medals ceremonies, alpine skiing venue, ice hokey rink).

In the heart of people for a warm popular fervor (30.000 people at the announcement of Annecy candidate city, 135.000 fans on facebook, 250.000 spectators at the 2009 world championships).

- education program for water saving in the world based on snow, ice and lake symbols

- Annecy environment preservation based on consultation with all montains actors

The decision was announced in Seoul...

The next Summer Military World games will be hosted in Rio...

That's a sign!

50 people demonstrated in Annecy streets. It is clearly an unsuccess for the opponents.

At this stage, everybody should be convinced of Annecy strengths, a bid that can be presented as quite different from the last ones (a big city + snow venues).

This bid is rather like Lillehammer 1994: a convivial small village atmosphere.

- Games in the heart of mountains for a real winter atmosphere.

- Venues in the heart of Annecy, Chamonix and villages, including big pedestrian areas for a warm festive atmosphere.

- Ice and snow in both poles

- 40 snow events and 26 ice events in Annecy pole (over a total of 50 snow events and 36 ice events).

- Lovely nordic venues in the heart of Annecy mountains villages.

- Freestyle and snowbord just above Annecy and its lake.

- Chamonix as the second pole (one of the most famous spot for skiing in the world)

- 130000 fans in facebook.

- Legacy from the past: world cup venues for biathlon, cross country skiing, alpine skiing, bobsleigh + 1924 winter games and 2 world championships in Chamonix.

- Legacy for the future:

a new ski jump that will give a unique place for future Nordic championships in France.

a new speed skating oval (future center for high level winter sport athletes. Today, French skaters have to go in other countries for training).

- contribution to the environmental protection:

new natural reserve in Annecy mountains.

education program for water saving in the world (taking advantage of ice, snow and lake symbols)

education program for environment respectfull skiing resorts for the future (train, buses, cable transport instead of these thousands of cars we see every week-end, energy saving accommodation...).

…

How is it possible not to be able to sell that?

When I enter “Annecy 2018” in google, I can’t see anything about that…. It is:

The director resigned

Another one resigned

Drut said…..

Killy wasn’t there

Opponents actions

Budget is too low

...

A peanuts vendor would do better than Annecy 2018!

It's not as big as Munich or PC but it should help for the international promotion.

(that's what Grospiron wanted!)

From my point of view, this low budget (even if it's better than before) could be used as a plus for the bid.

I explain:

IOC said that the games should now be more reasonable.

Annecy's budget could be presented as a "reasonable budget", just what is needed to clearly explain its project.

Is it reasonable to spend $100 Millions just to convince 100 people?

It is wasted money!

They should be welcomed by French Premier Fillon, but there is still a rumor that the President might come and say hello.

Opponents are tagging "NO JO" on whatever they can in Annecy, including the Annecy 2018 official merchandise shop, it is a little game they play with the organizers and the police. They defaced a freshly painted mural that had been inaugurated a few days ago.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/2011-02-07-756740381_x.htm

http://www.ledauphine.com/haute-savoie/2011/02/06/les-anti-jo-taguent-a-tour-de-bras

Enjoy

A new CEO should be appointed in the upcoming days.

Whatever little chances Annecy might have had a one point are now almost dead...

An entire day to celebrate the Olympism in Annecy on the 23rd June.

Olympians, World Champions, will participate during all the day in sport activities with the fans and spectators...

The World Olympic Day will continue in the evening with a huge concert and will be closed by a olympic firework on the lake.

All this event will take place on 'Le Paquier' the place for the 2018 Olympic Games Ceremonies...

To open, this new (dedicated) Annecy's forum a link to the "live" video of the Annecy's election.

http://impliquons-nous.com/

Live from Annecy with a connexion to the French NOC in Paris.

Anyone? Thanks in advance!