Source: insidethegames.biz | By Duncan Mackay in Durban
July 3 - Charles Beigbeder, the President of Annecy 2018, has hit out at its rivals to host the Winter Olympics and Paralympics amid reports that former chief executive Edgar Grospiron wanted the French city to withdraw its bid more than six months ago because he was so certain that it would be unsuccessful.
Beigbeder, a successful businessman appointed to head the bid in January following the resignation of former Olympic moguls champion Grospiron, has claimed that if Pyeongchang is successful then it will be down largely due to the backing of Olympic worldwide sponsor Samsung while Munich is motivated solely by taking the event back to Germany for the first time since 1936.
"We have a vision that serves the entire world, not one country and one continent," Beigbeder told French news agency AFP in an interview here today without mentioning Munich and Pyeongchang, which would have breached the IOC's strict ethics rules that all bid cities must adhere to.
"We are not here for France, we are here for Olympism.
"Of course there would be a legacy for France, but also there would be a world legacy.
"Our vision is in line with what the Olympic Movement would like to have now.
"We are here to put on an authentic Games.
"We are not there to get a trophy for a company or a country.
"We want to keep the Games at the top.
"Inspire the world."
Beigbeder's comments followed a report in today's edition of French newspaper Journal du Dimanche, which claimed that French President Nicolas Sarkozy was advised not to travel here by Jean-Claude Killy, a triple Olympic gold medallist and one of the most influential members of the IOC.
He, reportedly told Sarkozy, that the most votes Annecy could expect was 25, although a total of 15 was more likely and that they would be unable to compete with Munich and Pyeongchang.
Grospiron had reportedly recommended that Annecy withdraw before his resignation last December and was supported by Guy Drut, the 1976 Olympic 110 metres hurdles champion, France's other member of the IOC, but the idea was vetoed by Sports Minister Chantal Jouanno (pictured), who has insisted that, despite the overwhelming evidence, Annecy can still win.
"Annecy is not far behind," she told Journal du Dimanche.
"There is disinformation.
"The IOC Evaluation Commission has indicated that all three candidates are strong.
"The members are not saying that either [that Annecy is trailing].
"I will fight to the end.
"There is always a way to turn things around at the last minute.
"Recently, the underdogs have won bids.
"The Ryder Cup of golf, we were told not to go, but we won.
"Rio also won the 2016 Olympcis when they did not start as the favourites."
Jouanno also claimed that Sarkozy was fully behind the campaign despite his failure to travel here, leaving Annecy as the only bid not represented by the country's Head of State.
"The Prime Minister [François Fillon] will be there," she said.
"The IOC is guaranteed of the commitment of the Government [if Annecy win].
"The President cannot come because he is busy, but is completely involved in the bid.
"He has backed Annecy 2018 from the beginning and will until the end."
Sarkozy has instead written to all the IOC members claiming that Annecy had "unquestionable qualities" and that it had "something very special".
He said the candidature of Annecy was that "of a town, of a region ready to welcome the Games to an area which carries a deep respect and a passion without equal for winter sports".
"The mountains are the heart of our project," said Sarkozy, who reminded the IOC that the first official Winter Olympics took place in the French resort of Chamonix in 1924.
Last week, Canard Enchaine, a satirical French newspaper, reported that Jouanno had writtent to Beigbeder accusing him of failing to bring on board financial backing for the bid, with her and Lucien Boyer, the boss of Havas Sports having to step in to raise funds.
But she claimed that if Annecy are defeated then everyone had to share the blame.
"The success or failure will be collective," Jouanno said.
"It is the President of the bid, the city, the President of the French Olympic Committee, the French members of the IOC .
"We are all involved.
"Personally, I would have no problem to take defeat.
"Only in France is believed that failure is unacceptable.
"When you do sports, you learn to overcome it."
Beigbeder, meanwhile, claimed that he did not care about the negative publicity that the bid - and him personally - had received in France.
"The French press works that way," he told AFP.
"Remember the 1998 World Cup?
"French coach Aime Jacquet was humiliated and persecuted and then the French won.
"The French press adore what they burn and vice versa.
"At least they are passionate about us!"