Edgar Grospiron, who captured the moguls gold medal at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, has declared his candidacy for the position of president of the organizing committee for the upcoming 2030 Winter Olympics in France. Grospiron expressed concerns that preparations for the event are currently behind schedule.
On Tuesday, Grospiron made his announcement following the withdrawal of prominent French biathlete Martin Fourcade from the race, an exit that raised alarms regarding the progress of the preparations. “The stakes are clear,” Grospiron indicated. “We have only five years to ensure that the Games are executed flawlessly. Typically, this would require seven years. We have a budget set at two billion euros, whereas historically, such projects would demand closer to three billion. The key question is how we will achieve this, and who will collaborate with us?”
The Olympic bid is the sole candidate and is designed around ski resorts located in the French Alps, along with ice sports facilities in the coastal city of Nice. Earlier this month, Fourcade explained that he chose to withdraw due to differences with various stakeholders involved in the French project.
“Martin was the obvious choice for this presidency,” Grospiron remarked. “His dedication to the Olympic movement and his vision for the Alpes 2030 project had my full endorsement. His withdrawal is something I respect, and I am stepping forward as his successor not out of opportunism, but because there is a need to fill the gap his departure creates.”
With only five and a half years from when the host was awarded in July to the opening ceremony, the scheduling for the 2030 Games is the most compressed of any modern Olympics. Particularly, Olympic regulations have historically necessitated that host cities be designated at least seven years in advance. For context, Salt Lake City was also selected last July, with more than nine years remaining until the commencement of the 2034 Winter Games.
Grospiron further stated, “The Alpes 2030 initiative has indeed fallen behind schedule. We must accelerate our efforts, unify our approach, and ensure that all parties are aligned with a clear and practical vision. It’s essential that we proceed collaboratively with the various stakeholders, establishing transparent governance. Most importantly, we must steer clear of a governance structure that could hinder our progress, create divisions, or lead to unsatisfactory compromises.”
The announcement of the organizing committee is expected later this month, and Fourcade was anticipated to be a strong contender for the presidency, having garnered support from French President Emmanuel Macron. France has previously hosted the Winter Games on three occasions: initially in Chamonix in 1924, followed by Grenoble in 1968, and lastly Albertville in 1992.
At 55, Grospiron previously led France’s unsuccessful bid for the 2018 Winter Olympics, resigning due to inadequate funding to compete against rival bidders.
