The IOC made it official during the 141st session, in mid-October in Mumbai: a double vote will decide next year on the attribution of the Winter Games in 2030 and 2034. For the second edition, Salt Lake City has already almost won the race. The American city could even be the only one in the running. For 2030, on the other hand, the battle remains very uncertain between Sweden, the first party, Switzerland and its national project, and the two French regions, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (AURA) and Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur ( PACA).

At the helm of the French candidacy, David Lappartient (photo above). The president of the UCI and the national Olympic committee (CNOSF) seems more invested than ever in a campaign where the coming weeks promise to be decisive. He answered questions from FrancsJeux.

FrancsJeux : Where is the French Alps application file today? 

David Lappartient : We are making good progress. The commission of future hosts will hear us on November 21. Before that, we will have to submit the final file, probably on November 7. We have already submitted a pre-file to the IOC on Friday October 13. The executive commission will meet from November 29 to December 1 in Paris. She will choose with whom to continue in the targeted dialogue phase. We are on time.

Did the pre-file submitted to the IOC include a map of the sites?

Of course. I can't reveal it yet, because we're still moving forward. But apart from two elements, everything is correct. The sharing of sites between the two regions is very balanced. There were discussions with regional presidents and elected officials. We looked at the sites which had already hosted world championships, those which had approved equipment. It's not betraying a secret, the bobsleigh will be in La Plagne. We started with a logic of using either existing sites or recognized expertise. The subject of the speed ring remains unresolved. We have two options: a temporary site, exhibition center style, with enough room to put an oval, or go abroad. Both options are open, but we will probably not have the answer when we submit our application.

Where is the budget?

It is not established. We don't want to give a budget too early. The mistake would be to communicate it without having encrypted all the elements. Candidates sometimes tend to minimize the cost in the application phase, and then people say that the Games cost more than expected. I am more in the logic of planning Games that cost as little as possible, but also of announcing the most realistic budget possible.

Who is working on the file today?

A small team. I myself am very involved, particularly in relations with Renaud Muselier and Laurent Wauquiez (presidents of the PACA and AURA regions), with the State and with the federations, because the candidacy is legally supported by the CNOSF. I spend a lot of time there. At the CNOSF, we have four people on it, two of whom are 100%, plus the general director and the advisor. Both regions also have a small team. In all, around ten people are working on the file. Apart from Vincent Jay (Olympic biathlon champion in 2010), who joined the AURA region for this candidacy, people were already present. We will communicate the cost of this application later. It will be historically low.

Is the IOC’s decision of a double vote 2030-2034 favorable to you?

I think so. At the time of award, at the end of 2024, there will only be a little more than five years until the Games. It's very short. With this double vote, the IOC is breathing new life. And, with him, the athletes and the federations. For applications, this also gives more space. Instead of being four for one edition, that of 2030, there are three of us plus one.

You have always shown great confidence in this candidacy. Is it on the rise today?

We are confident because we have a good record. But we have serious competitors. Sweden and Switzerland, technically, are serious countries, which know how to organize major international events. I have no doubt that they will be able to make a good case. We will have to highlight our qualities, including decision-making capacity in France. Our decision-making system can sometimes be more effective, as can the capacity for commitment of the State and communities, particularly on a financial level. We also have economic market depth. A third of the budget is to be found in the private sector. For this, economic resources are needed in the country. We undoubtedly have more opportunities for this than our two competitors.

Opposition is manifesting and being heard in the two regions concerned, particularly from environmental associations. Is this an obstacle?

Jean de la Fontaine said: “You cannot please everyone and their father.” There will be people against the Olympic Games, against the very principle of the Games. I respect their point of view. We won't be able to convince them. But I want to tell them that the Paris 2024 Games mark a real transition from the Olympic model: cheaper, more sustainable. This is even more true for the Winter Games. With the two regional presidents, we went to see Emmanuel Macron to explain to him that we will not build any new equipment, unless there is a need for inheritance issues. Paris 2024 marked a revolution for the Summer Games. The idea is to play the same role for those in winter. We also propose a revolution. We carried out surveys. In the AURA region, the support rate is 81%, a very large majority. We must not forget that democracy is also the majority fact.