The tension was palpable this morning in Paris, where the French Olympic committee (CNOSF) was meeting to vote for which candidate France is going to back for the country's bid to host the Winter Olympics in 2018.
A clear majority was required in votes (that's to say a minimum of 22 votes from the 42 committee members present) to avoid a second round of voting. And, a couple of hours ago, Annecy was declared the clear winner, beating the Grenoble, Nice and Peloux bids in the first round!
This means the Annecy bid will have the full backing of the French Olympic committee and will present their bid to the International Olympic Committee in Lausanne before October. After then, it's a long, painful wait until the winning country to host the 2018 Winter Olympics is announced in Durban, South Africa, in 2011.
An incredible amount of work has been put into the Annecy 2018 bid, with events and roadshows being organised throughout the region to increase awareness and harvest support. In Les Houches nearly 2500 skiers and boarders made a human chain on the Piste Verte, whilst in Morzine there was an Annecy 2018 roadshow and exhibition.
It's really positive news for the whole valley. Here's an overview of the Annecy 2018 bid:
- Opening and closing ceremonies in Annecy town
- Events will take place in 10 resorts divided into three zones : Annecy-Aravis, Portes du Soleil and Mont-Blanc
- Alpine skiing: Les Houches and Morzine/Avoriaz
- Cross country: La Clusaz
- Biathlon: Le Grand Bornand
- Snowboard: Flaine
- Freestyle skiing: La Clusaz or Megeve
- Ice skating: Annecy
- Bobsleigh: La Plagne
- Ice hockey: Chamonix and Megeve
Christian Monteil, the president of the Haute Savoie general council who has been organising the bid, claimed that 80% of the infrastructure needed to run the Games was already in place. The main investments would be centred around Annecy, where two ice rinks, a speed rink and a jump would be built, with total investment coming in at 230 million euros.
Interesting, both Annecy and Grenoble wanted to bid for the 2014 Winter Olympics, but the CNOSF refused, as the committee was backing the (ultimately unsuccessful) Paris 2012 bid.
Let's hope the French bid makes a successful presentation in Lausanne and will be the winning nation to host the 2018 Winter Olympics when it's announced in 2011.
