French Alps 2030: the Edgar Grospiron hypothesis
On Saturday, a new videoconference meeting brought together the promoters of the 2030 Olympic Games in the French Alps: representatives of the CNOSF, the CPSF, the Ministry of Sport, Youth and the Voluntary Sector, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur regions, as well as former Prime Minister Michel Barnier and the DIJOP. It comes just a few days after Martin Fourcade stepped down as chairman of the organising committee.
For La Tribune Dimanche, the six-time Olympic champion’s decision to withdraw has unleashed the ambitions of other “very good” candidates. For the weekly, Edgar Grospiron, gold medallist in moguls skiing at the 1992 Olympics and General Manager of Annecy’s 2018 bid, and Nathalie Péchalat “look like favourites”. “The challenge is huge and exciting. I think we can deliver great Games within budget. I’ve got the codes, I was trained at the Jean-Claude Killy school,” says Péchalat in the JDD.
The media are putting forward other names. Marie Martinod and former biathlete Vincent Jay are still in the running, as are Perrine Pelen, Michel Vion, former President of the French Ski Federation, and Luc Alphand, writes Céline Géraud in the Journal du Dimanche.
La Tribune Dimanche adds Sarah Abitbol, Philippe Candeloro and, “surprisingly, former sports journalist Gérard Holtz “ to this already extensive list . There is also talk of a “rumour” involving Teddy Riner. In short, all these hypotheses are reminiscent of what France has experienced in recent months when it came to finding a Prime Minister. All avenues are being explored, even the least likely.
The French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF) did not mention any names in the press release it issued on 8 February. It simply stated its intention to appoint the president of Cojop as soon as possible. It also defined the selection criteria and procedures, including “membership of the sports movement and the ability to unite its players, the ability to promote and embody the Alpes Françaises 2030 project and its values, leadership, the ability to lead a team and build consensus, as well as motivation, commitment and availability”.
The deadline for submitting official candidatures is Monday.
- French Alps 2030: Martin Fourcade will not be Chairman of the Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games
- French Alps 2030 | Martin Fourcade steps down as COJOP president: what the press has to say
- “Quentin Fillon-Maillet’s big ambitions just days before the start of the world championships in Lenzerheide.
