Plenty of joie de vivre if Annecy gets go-ahead

By Peter Auf der Heyde Jul 6, 2011, 9:50 GMT

Durban, South Africa - Winter Games outsider Annecy is hoping members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will opt for joi de vivre when awarding the 2018 Olympic Winter Games.

The host for the Games will be elected and announced later Wednesday at the 123rd IOC Session in the South African coastal town of Durban.

Annecy, which is widely expected to be knocked out in the first round of voting, is competing with German city Munich and South Korea's Pyeongchang for the right to host the Games.

'We are offering authentic Games to be staged at the heart of the mountains,' Charles Beigbeder, the president of Annecy 2018, said.

'We will bring the mountains and the spirit of the mountains to peoples' hearts.'

Annecy's presentation, which was the second of the day and followed Munich's, stressed the beauty of the region where the Games would be held.

French Sports Minister Chantal Jouanno said the video presentation showed the majestic beauty of the mountains 'do not show the fragility' of them.

'Because we know of their fragility, our bid is environmentally sound. The Games will be environmentally sustainable,' he said.

IOC member Guy Drut, who competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, said the Annecy vision offers something new for the benefit of the Olympic movement and for athletes.

He congratulated Munich and Pyeongchang on their bids and said they were honoured to be competing against them.

'Both countries are well able to host the Games,' he said.

'But the choice is not between different cities or countries, or about the way in which they have hosted previous Games. It is about future.

'It is about which city will help develop the Winter Games and make them stronger in 2018 and many years after. Annecy will stage Games true to original idea of the Olympic Games.'

Denis Masseglia, the president of the French Olympic Committee, said his country was proud to be the birthplace of Baron de Coubertin, who is considered the instigator of the modern-day Olympics.

'We have contributed to the global growth of the Olympic movement. This is our fourth bid in 14 years. This shows our love for the Olympics,' he said.

'To host the Games is to create a pathway to the future. That is why sporting excellence is at the heart of the bid. It is driven by athletes for other athletes.'

Gwendal Peizerat, who won the Olympic ice dancing competition in 2002, told IOC members the Annecy bid brought snow and ice together.

'It is very important that all athletes have a chance to experience all aspects of the Games, not only their own,' she said.

'When I won the gold medal, I immediately went to the ski slope to support Jean-Pierre Vidal, who went on to win the gold in the slalom skiing competition.'

The IOC had earlier said that slopestyle skiing would be introduced at the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi. Freestyle world champion Kevin Rolland said that for him to be able to pursue an Olympic medal was the best thing ever.

'It would only be better to be able to ski for gold at home in 2018. I think the mountains are calling us!' he said

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