Received Wednesday evening by Michel Barnier, the former biathlete was however not officially named boss of the COJOP this Thursday following a meeting in Matignon.
A simple setback, or the symbol of a real lack of support around his name? While this Thursday, at the end of an important working meeting bringing together the main players in the 2030 Olympic Games file (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur regions, French National Olympic and Sports Committee, Paralympic and French sportsman as well as the State) chaired by Prime Minister Michel Barnier, many expected to see Martin Fourcade be officially inducted president of the Organizing Committee (COJOP), this was not the case. For what reasons?
After being received on Wednesday evening by Michel Barnier, very engaged on the subject, Martin Fourcade was able to better understand the roadmap which awaited the future Tony Estanguet of the 2030 Olympics. If the question of remuneration – 200,000 euros per year (i.e. below of the 270,000 euros annually received by Estanguet within the framework of Paris 2024) – does not visibly constitute an obstacle in the mind of the now six-member Olympic biathlon champion, the same would not apply to his contracts with his various partners (Rossignol, Odlo).
Fourcade's fear of the shadow?
Brands of which he is the ambassador and which could be a source of conflicts of interest, even if in an interview in L'Equipe on October 23, the Catalan saw no disadvantages: “The two long-term partnerships that I can have are with technical brands which, in my opinion, are not in contradiction with the partnership issues of the organizing committee”. However, it may be that not everyone sees this from the same perspective.
Another stone in Fourcade's shoe, his image and his assertive character which could, like Estanguet, take all the spotlight, which some would not necessarily see very favorably. Without forgetting the question of Val d'Isère, which some, starting with Barnier himself or even Laurent Wauquiez, would like to see included on the Games map, while others are opposed to it. A sensitive point that the future head of COJOP will have to decide and on which Fourcade remains very cautious. Maybe too much…
A seat near Lyon-Saint-Exupéry
Still, for the moment, Martin Fourcade's candidacy remains in the waiting room, facing those of another former biathlete, Vincent Jay, or Marie Martinot, the double Olympic silver medalist from 2014 and 2018 in half-pipe skiing. The only decisions taken this Thursday during this meeting in Matignon, the COJOP headquarters will be located near Lyon-Saint-Exupéry, for practical reasons in particular with the proximity of the airport and the TGV station, while that of Solideo, will be located as planned in Marseille, according to the principle of a rotating co-presidency each year between the two regions, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (AURA) on one side and Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (PACA) on the other. Renaud Muselier (PACA) will get the ball rolling before Fabrice Pannekoucke (AURA) takes over.
