Martin Fourcade's turnaround has disrupted plans. While the role of president of the Organizing Committee for the 2030 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games seemed a natural fit for him, the former biathlete preferred to retire. A shock in the world of winter sports. "Why go looking for big names in French sport and then not give them any freedom of action? I don't understand", commented former skater Philippe Candeloro to the the Figaro. Nathalie Péchalat also expressed her disappointment during a round table on Tuesday: "Personally, I am shocked that we can scare away someone like Martin Fourcade! It is completely beyond me. Athletes like Martin have values, experience, skills, a desire. How can we extinguish that?" Deprived of what looked like the number 1 choice, the French Alps will now have to bounce back.
One biathlete can hide another
Two other names have been standing out for several months now. Vincent Jay, also a biathlete, is at the heart of the project as operational director for the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region."We have to show that this mountain is alive, that we live there, that we work there and that we want to pass it on to our children so that they can enjoy it too", he supported in September. "The fact that Martin Fourcade is no longer a candidate frees up other athletes to speak out and we have new candidacies, which complement those that were in competition with that of Fourcade. That of Marie Martinod is one of them", commented Renaud Muselier, president of the PACA region.
The former freestyler has been discreet until now. By her own admission, she has not "never been a candidate". However, it is not closed. "I remain availableshe confides to Ski Chrono. I have been involved with the CNOSF for eight years. Both regions have approached me. So I am a bit of a candidate for the "centre" between Paris and the mountains." Interesting in terms of balance. Ski Chrono judges however that the two outsiders "no longer seem to be in the race for the presidency" today, although they will have a role to play in the COJOP organization chart.
The IOC's impatience
So who will take up the torch? The priority is still given to a former athlete, on the model of Tony Estanguet for Paris 2024. Edgar Grospiron appears to be a credible lead. The Haute-Savoie native was a triple world champion and Olympic champion in mogul skiing in 1992 in Albertville. A sporting CV that carries a lot of weight, and which is combined with experience as director of Annecy's bid to organize the 2018 Winter Games. He intends to give himself time to think. "I am studying, talking to people to form an opinion, to know if I want to go or not., he explains to RMC Sport. I was asked if I was interested. From the moment I say "yes", it is the decision of the executive office to appoint me or not. I am probably not the only one. If I say "no", it means that the executive will have to decide between the other candidates."
Faced with the emergency, with the date of February 18 on everyone's mind, around twenty names were cited on Monday during a crisis meeting around Michel Barnier, according to L'Equipe. The daily newspaper slips that of Perrine Pelen. The skier with three Olympic medals (one silver, two bronze) was the architect of the Alpine Skiing World Championships in Courchevel and Méribel in 2023. A great success. While waiting for the outcome of the negotiations, the IOC communicated on Tuesday. The body indicated that Martin Fourcade "as a member of the IOC, will be part of the board of directors of the organizing committee" and "his precious experience" will allow "to help shape" the project. “Ultimately, it is up to the project stakeholders to decide on the direction of the COJO. The IOC looks forward to their proposal.” To the best of my mind.
