It's done. And, in general opinion, rather well done. Less than a month before the big day, the two Winter Games bids – the French Alps for 2030, Salt Lake City for 2034 – passed the last obstacle before the finish line without falling. A major technical oral presentation in front of the IOC members, Wednesday June 26. Their first exchange with the entire body since the start of the campaign.
Let's be clear: this videoconference presentation, underlined with a thick line as the final crossing point before the formal vote of the session, Wednesday July 24, was in no way decisive. Both cases have already been won. They will be chosen in less than thirty days in Paris, at the Palais des Congrès.
Despite everything, an approximate presentation would have had a bad effect on the hundred IOC members gathered virtually, with Thomas Bach in the lead. But both teams had prepared their business. The exercise did not reveal any gray areas.
On the menu, sites, experience, transport, accommodation, governance and general vision. Around thirty minutes of presentation, then a question/answer session. Classic.
The matter is over, but the French and Americans are careful not to call victory. Their postulation remains humble, even modest. The cheers will wait, the congratulations too.
« We are humble and full of hope, confided Fraser Bullock, the chairman of the Salt Lake City and Utah bid committee. We believe we are in a great position, but until the vote takes place, we are 100% focused on every element of our bid and making sure we do our best. »
« We delivered a quality service where complementarity was seen between each other,explained David Lappartient, the president of the French Olympic committee, quoted by l'Equipe. We explained our concept. The IOC members felt the complementarity between the Olympic movement, the regions, the State, and each other's commitments. We had few questions, 4 or 5, of a rather sporting nature. »
According to Fraser Bullock, the Salt Lake City team was only questioned once at the end of the presentation. It concerned the completely new project of creating a village for athletes' families. “ They love this initiative, assured the American. They wanted to know more."
The following ? On the American side, finalize the marketing partnership agreement with the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC). It is written and sent to Lausanne, awaiting validation by the IOC.
On the French side, finally obtain guarantees from the State, a document whose signature was postponed by Emmanuel Macron's decision to dissolve the National Assembly on the evening of the last European elections and the victory of the Rassemblement National. The political uncertainty does not help, but the project leaders assured the IOC that the guarantees would be signed between July 8 and 24.
