Annecy 2018 Bid Not Under Budget Claims Beigbeder

Annecy’s bid President Charles Beigbeder has claimed that the 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics bid is not being hampered by lack of money, after reports suggested that they are US$3.6m short of their budget and struggling with only 30 days until the final decision.

The French national media reported that the figure is missing from the $42.4m previously announced by the Annecy 2018.

Gwendal Peizerat, managing director of Sports in the Rhone-Alpes, claimed they had decided to abstain from a vote on the budget since there were too many uncertainties on the revenue if Annecy were awarded the Games. 

But Beigbeder insisted there is no problem ahead of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session in Durban on July 6 to decide who will host the Games, between themselves, Munich and PyeongChang.

Beigbeder released a statement, reading: “I would like to make it 100 per cent clear that Annecy 2018 has a balanced budget approved by stakeholders.

“We have all of the funds necessary to compete in this race between now and the final decision in Durban.

“We fully believe this is a bid that can win and are proud of our vision of authentic Games in the heart of the mountains for the benefit the entire Olympic Movement and Winter Sports worldwide.”