Annecy ’18 Bid Hit by Strong Public Opposition

The hopes of the French city of Annecy hosting the 2018 Winter Games have been hit after a group opposed to the bid claim to have collected over 13,000 signatures of people who are against it, overshadowing the announcement that 500 of France’s greatest ever sportsmen and women, including Zinedine Zidane were behind the campaign.

The group, Annecy Comité Anti-Olympique (CAO) – Annecy Anti-Olympic Committee – claim to have gathered 13,649 signatures and are planning to hold a press conference to highlight their concerns about the French city’s bid.

A statement published via the CAO’s official website read: “The CAO exists for two years, multiplying actions. 

“It aims to inform very precisely Haute-Savoie population not only on the excesses of the Olympics, the sport business, the financial stakes of multinationals and unacceptable demands of the IOC, but also on adverse impacts on the environment and on uncontrolled public spending with long-term debt for the Olympic city.

“We believe that the truth must be told.

“Annecy 2018 nomination is no exception to the rule of the denial of democracy, despite the repeated promises on budget transparency, nothing has been published.

“Are elected officials lying to us?”

The President of Annecy 2018, Charles Biegbeder has refuted the claims, vowing that the public were fully behind the bid and the support of so many top athletes would help Annecy close the gap on Munich and Pyeongchang, the favourites.

Biegbeder stated: “Athletes are at the heart of this bid and have played a central role in helping us devise our plans.

“We are delighted to have been able to unite the entire French sporting movement, including athletes of all disciplines, behind Annecy 2018. 

“Their collective support and commitment in helping galvanise public support and promoting the bid around the world is vital as we enter the final straight in this campaign.

“We have had fantastic support from the public throughout this campaign and believe they will energise the bid team over the next 100 days.”