Annecy's 2018 Winter Olympic bid under pressure

Dec 7, 2010, 19:36 GMT

Paris - Annecy's struggling bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympics has come under the political spotlight after French Sports Minister Chantal Jouanno demanded 'clarity' Tuesday before deciding on whether to offer bid organizers extra financial support.

Jouanno revealed that the French resort, which is considered to be trailing rivals Munich and South Korea's Pyeongchang for the right to host the 2018 Games, has already received a government subsidy totalling 800,000 euros (1.06 million euros).

However, Jouanno dismissed the idea that the French government would have a say in Annecy's bid merely because of its financial support.

'This remains a sporting bid, exactly as expected by the International Olympic Committee (IOC),' she said after a meeting with French IOC member Guy Drut.

'I have to be told what requirements there are, what is being done, what is intended and how much it is all expected to cost. In the end, the State is always contacted.'

The announcement by Christian Monteil, chairman of the bid's supervisory board, that the bid budget should be raised from 18 to 20 or 22 million euros was greeted with a cool response by Jouanno.

'I want to know who is supposed to pay for this,' she said.

Drut has criticised Annecy organizers for starting their campaign too late and failing to convince IOC members of the merits of their new plan, which now offers a project centered around Annecy and Chamonix.

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