POSTED: July 3rd 2011
NewsUpdate
Sarkozy first to put in a word with IOC in support of Annecy's 2018 bid
KEIR RADNEDGE / Sports Features Communications
LONDON/PARIS, Jul 03: President Nicolas Sarkozy will resist any temptation to join the increasingly contentious 'political fashion parade' before the IOC in Durban this week but that does not mean he is not fully behind Annecy's bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympic Games.
The International Olympic Committee decides on Wednesday between Annecy, Munich and the South Korean favourites PyeongChang.
South Korean President Lee Myung Bak arrived in the South African coastal city on Saturday while German President Christian Wulff and French prime minister Francois Fillon are also expected to support their countries' representatives.
Sarkozy, who met members of the evaluation commission during their assessment visit to the French Alpine city in February, has sent a personal letter of support to all hundred-plus voting members of the IOC.
In the letter, he said: "In writing this letter, I wished to express to you my personal support and that of the French nation as a whole for France's bid for 2018 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.
"The choice that lies before you, as a member of the International Olympic Committee, is a particularly difficult one. All three candidate cities boast indubitable qualities but France is confident its bid has something special to offer.
"Its bid is that of Annecy - a city and territory ready to host the Games in a region steeped in deep respect and unrivalled passion for winter sports. The mountains are central to our project and are as breathtaking in their beauty as they are challenging to even the world's top athletes.
"These are the same mountains that were home to the 1924 Winter Olympic Games in Chamonix - Games that left their mark on an entire generation, opening them up to winter sports. This tradition and France's know-how in organising the foremost sporting events will be put to work for the XXIII Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
"Nearly one century has elapsed and today's youth is in search of values and clear reference points: what finer symbol could there be than a genuine mountain environment that invites youth from from all countries down the path of Olympism and offers a unique, stunning display to the world.
"I know of your unlimited dedication to sport, the Olympic Movement and the ideals of Olympism and thank you for this."
Annecy's delegation will include Sports Minister Chantal Jouanno alongside Fillon. Bid leader Charles Beigbeder said: "Throughout this campaign we have had support from the president and the prime minister for our vision of authentic games in the heart of the mountains, with the athletes for the future."
The counter-productive risk undertaken by senior political and state figures in pressing 'their' cases before bid decision authorities has been a subject of increasing debate within international sport.
President Barack Obama's vain plea to the IOC on behalf of Chicago's pursuit of the 2016 Summer Olympics and the rebuff delivered to Prince William by FIFA over England's 2018 World Cup campaign.
Keywords · Sarkozy · 2018 Winter Olympics · Annecy
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