The Organizing Committee for the 2030 Winter Olympics still has no president. Several candidates are competing after Martin Fourcade’s withdrawal. The concerned authorities plan to make a nomination before the founding assembly on February 18.
The Organizing Committee for the 2030 Winter Olympics (COJOP) is struggling to appoint its president. The lack of official statutes and the tensions between the sports and political spheres are hindering the appointment. This situation is beginning to concern the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Martin Fourcade’s withdrawal, who was supported by the Élysée and the sports world, has left the field open for new candidates. His profile, deemed too imposing by Renaud Muselier and Laurent Wauquiez, financiers of the Games, led to his removal. Since then, several personalities have expressed their interest, including Philippe Candeloro, Nathalie Péchalat, and Edgar Grospiron. The list could still grow in the absence of an official decision.
A source close to the matter reveals: “It should move towards a trio with Grospiron to reassure the IOC, Marie Bochet for the feminine touch, and a major athlete, even from summer sports, to attract sponsors like Tony Parker, Teddy Riner, or Laure Manaudou.”
The Selection Procedures are Becoming Clearer
The stakeholders in the organization of the Games met this Monday to define the next steps in the process. The president of the COJOP must be appointed before the founding assembly on February 18.
Representatives of the CNOSF, CPSF, the Ministry of Sports, the affected regions, and the DIJOP reiterated the selection criteria. The candidate must belong to the sports movement, be capable of unifying people, have leadership, and demonstrate unwavering commitment to the task. The project’s ethics and sobriety must be assured.
Moreover, Gérard Holtz publicly expressed his interest in the position, stating to Dauphiné Libéré: “I thought about it when I heard the Minister of Sports, Marie Barsacq, say that they needed a profile with sports at its core! It hit me like a lightning bolt.” He would like to share this role with Nathalie Péchalat.
While awaiting the official appointment, the authorities are making progress on other fronts. The creation of the SOLIDEO 2030, responsible for infrastructure, is imminent. The South Region has voted to join the COJOP, planning to finance 2.8 million euros for the launch of the projects. A Regional Parliament of the 2030 Games, “Passion Mountain 2050,” will be established to involve citizens and local players in the organization.
The next few weeks will be decisive in structuring the COJOP and ensuring the success of the 2030 Winter Games.