« I was bruised. » Martin Fourcade does not hide it, his experience with the French Alps 2030 « was painful "The six-time Olympic champion spoke at length about his decision to throw in the towel, when he was promised the post of president of the organizing committee, in L'Equipe. " I had the feeling of being able to contribute to this project and, deep down, the pretension of saying: "The Winter Games in my country, how is it possible that I am not participating?" "He says.
« I wasn't ready for all the compromises. I took it on knowing that it would also be an earthquake in my way of life. I know what it cost having seen it, and lived it, with Tony Estanguet in the Paris 2024 adventure. I was very lucid. On the other hand, I was ready for things but for a project that suits me and that I totally embrace. Not on a project where I would go a little backwards. Giving up was a very difficult decision to make. But I didn't want to lie to myself about that. ", continues the former biathlete.
The Catalan cites in particular " territorial anchoring " of these Games as a point of profound disagreement. " There was courageous and difficult choices to makeI felt like I wouldn't have been allowed to do them as president. " he explains, also highlighting different visions regarding the ecological considerations of the project. JI didn't feel that this project had that ingrained in me., he continues. We are working on a territorial project a time when the mountain is shaken by global warming and where we must preserve natural environments. (…) There, the message did not seem to be understood by certain interlocutors. It was more of a cosmetic than a foundation. »
Martin Fourcade nevertheless wants to be optimistic about the great celebration that these Winter Games will be: " The Paris Olympics showed that we can live together and respect each other. Like the 1998 World Cup, these are founding moments that a nation needsWe did it. We can do it again with the Winter Games, and keep it alive with other references. We were all passionate about boccia or ping-pong. (…) There is no objective reason why we cannot do it by watching ski jumping or biathlon. »
