POSTED: Monday October 18th 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Annecy plays host to the rendezvous for great outdoors sports professionals
From 11 to 13 October, Annecy hosted the Outdoor Sports Valley Forum, a must for all international Great Outdoors Sports professionals.
Attending the event, Edgar Grospiron stressed the major legacy at the very heart of the French bid to host the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Games: structure the positioning and strengthen the appeal of Annecy as a world capital of environment-friendly outdoor activities.
Organised by Outdoor Sports Valley and European Outdoor Group, the Outdoor Sports Valley Forum is the first European conference to bring together players from the outdoor sports world to discuss strategic orientations in the sector. The numerous entrepreneurs from a whole host of countries who made the trip to Annecy were able to appreciate the quality of the Annecy 2018 playing field: Europe's purest lake, at the heart of the snow-capped mountains.
In his opening words, Jean-Luc Rigaut, Mayor of Annecy, joint-Chairman of Annecy 2018 and former world Canoeing champion, revealed his city's ambition to the conference participants: to make Annecy and Savoie Mont-Blanc an international centre of excellence for winter and great outdoors sports. This ambition finds its origin in the region's numerous natural gems, representing a major legacy at the very heart of the French bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
Already a great favourite among environment-friendly outdoor activity enthusiasts, the city of Annecy and Savoie Mont Blanc are a must-go venue for elite sportsmen and women. Savoie Mont Blanc, a land of exceptional promise, regularly demonstrates its ability to play host to the world, at the numerous international sporting events held in the region (60% of the Ski World Cup events organised in France, international events in numerous disciplines - athletics, mountain biking, orienteering, Tour de France stages, Evian Masters Golf Tournament, Val d'Isère World Ski Championships).
Edgar Grospiron, the French bid's CEO, stated: "As CEO of Annecy 2018, I am delighted to see such enthusiasm for our region from representatives of great outdoors sports from all over the world. If we have decided to bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 2018, it is also because Annecy and its region wish to develop their notoriety and become an international centre of excellence in great outdoors sports. Sport and nature are the DNA of the Savoie Mont Blanc region. This is the playing field we shall provide for all athletes if we are chosen by the International Olympic Committee to host the Games. The Games we organise will be ecologically responsible, in a region with a historic focus on sports and nature."
Event
Annecy 2018 at the Rhône-Alpes Pavilion at the Universal Exhibition in Shanghai
For the Sports and Mountain Week organised by the Rhône-Alpes Region in the Rhône-Alpes Pavilion at the Universal Exhibition in Shanghai, Olympic Champions and Annecy 2018 Sports Team members Gwendal Peizerat and Jean-Pierre Vidal, and Mayor of Annecy, Jean-Luc Rigaut, took part in a day of presentations and debates on themes of elite sports, organising major sporting events in Rhône-Alpes and the economic, environmental and social issues facing tomorrow's mountain regions.
Support
"Domaines Skiables de France" hoist the Annecy 2018 colours
"Domaines Skiables de France", the French ski areas' representative body this week announced its support for the Annecy 2018 bid and offered to provide advertising space on the ski lifts throughout the French ski resorts during the forthcoming winter season. Goal: to reach the 60 million visitors from all over the world who come to take advantage of Savoie Mont Blanc's legendary ski slopes.
Cultural Event
Annecy celebrates the return from the mountain pastures
On Saturday 9th October 2010, a crowd over 50,000 strong filled the streets of Annecy to celebrate the "Return from the Mountain Pastures". This traditional cultural event, the descent from the mountain pastures, symbolises the return of the herds into the valley for the winter months. Traditional craftwork displays, demonstrations of ancient trades, parades, traditional groups, local produce… a whole host of activities to take you on a day trip into the heart of the rich cultural heritage of the Savoie Mont Blanc mountain pastures.
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Keywords · Annecy 2018 · Olympic Bidding · Edgar Grospiron · Outdoor Sports Valley · European Outdoor Group
Name: Alexandra Carraz
Organization: Annecy 2018 Bid Committee
Email:
Phone: + 33 (0)6 22 86 73 12
URL: http://www.annecy2018.com/fr/
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