This time, it's done! The Organizing Committee for the 2030 French Alps Olympic and Paralympic Games was officially born on Tuesday, February 18 in Décines, at the Lyon stadium. The constitutive General Assembly allowed the signing of the OCOG statutes and allowed all stakeholders to give the project, led by Edgar Grospiron, a real kick-off. The 1992 Albertville Olympic champion was confirmed as President of the Organizing Committee, in the presence of athletes such as skier Arthur Bauchet. "The 2030 French Alps Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games are now moving from project to reality », Grospiron said happily.
Lillehammer rather than Sochi
Tuesday afternoon's press conference sent a welcome message of unity after the difficulties of recent weeks and set the tone for the next five years. Amidst the many thanks, former Prime Minister Michel Barnier reiterated the goal of delivering "impeccable Games in a context of budgetary sobriety". The holding of this press conference at the Stade de Lyon is not insignificant in this regard. « If we made this choice, it is because the OCOG headquarters will be installed nearby. We are at the gateway to the Northern Alps, and very close to Marseille and Paris by TGV. This place is part of this approach of sobriety and accessibility that we want », stressed Fabrice Pannecoucke, president of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.
His counterpart from the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, Renaud Muselier, is on the same wavelength. The elected official sees this project as a global message: "Yes, we won't be able to ski tomorrow like we skied yesterday. Yes, climate change is a reality with an impact on the mountains. But despite the grumblers and the grumpy ones, practicing the mountains and winter sports differently does not mean no longer practicing them. Our candidacy is one of optimism and realism. We are going to present to the world the greenest Games in history, the most exemplary in environmental terms. Games with snow, chalets and athletes, a bit like Lillehammer, the anti-Sochi, the anti-Beijing. » What the Minister of Sports, Marie Barsacq, translates into “build less and build usefully”, “investing and inventing the mountain of tomorrow together”, with social, environmental and budgetary responsibility.
A long field of bumps
Last to take the stage, Edgar Grospiron began his term with a good dose of praise from his colleagues. "Boss of bosses" », now « Lord of the Rings », as summed up by a Renaud Muselier in great shape. Carried by a "spirit of conquest" », the Haute-Savoie resident wants “bringing the Games to the people” to make "a great popular festival »He also sees in these Olympic Games the opportunity to support "the transition of the French mountain » thinking about housing, transport, resource management, events, sport and culture. "If we can do this, the Games as a catalyst, we can make a contribution to changing the world », he assures. The president of OCOG recalled that he was not there to impose his vision, but that he wanted to convince and work as a team. Michel Barnier extended his hand to him, affirming that he would remain at his side "as long as he wants" to allow the ship to reach cruising speed.
An executive director will soon be recruited to support him and take on this immense challenge. The composition of the OCOG is not yet known, but Vincent Jay will most likely be part of it. Grospiron emphasized his thanks for his work for the AURA region. "I will be at his side from now on to help him take up his duties, confirmed the ex-biathlete to our colleagues at RMC Sport. Having been there from the beginning, I know all the technical details. I want to save him time by providing him with my knowledge of the file. I don't want him to waste another six months mastering everything." These comments confirm what Grospiron had said in his letter of candidacy, namely that he could rely on major support.
"It's a field of bumps, but a long field of bumps that will last five years. You'll have to have the thighs, the knees, the guts, smiled Grospiron. The bump is never the problem. It depends on how you look at it. I know we will encounter difficulties, our challenge will be to transform them into opportunities." The new head of the French Alps 2030 did not miss his entrance – except when signing the symbolic document creating the COJOP, which he inadvertently initialed in the place reserved for David Lappartient. Fortunately, he will very quickly move from symbolic acts to concrete action, particularly on the thorny subject of the site map. There are four years and eleven months left to be able to honour Renaud Muselier's promise: “You liked Paris 2024, you will love the Alps 2030!”
