One week before a next meeting on November 28 in Matignon, which could be decisive for the appointment of the boss of Alpes Françaises 2030, the two finalists for the position, Martin Fourcade, who would hold the rope, and Vincent Jay, who remains in the game, are in the waiting room feverishly watching for white smoke. Decryption in “money-time”.
After his fiery declaration in L’Equipe on October 23 to embody the presidency of the Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (COJOP), Martin Fourcade folded the match ? “There is a framework that has been defined, with a requirement for environmental and financial sobriety, we must now study who fits into this framework with collegiality and objectivity,” continues to assert, in recent days, Fabrice Pannekoucke, president of the AURA region. “But don’t forget Marie Martinod…She’s my neighbor, she is elected from Aime-La-Plagne…” adds the mayor of Moûtiers. “From the moment Fourcade raised his finger, the match was over. And yet, we still don’t know,” confides an expert on the matter.
In Matignon, an advisor specifies regarding the formalization of COJOP governance on November 28 that “it is not guaranteed but it is not excluded”.
The fact remains that for this casting for the presidency of the COJOP, the two most prominent candidates are the two former Olympic champion biathletes, Martin Fourcade and Vincent Jay.
The decision taken by “the Club of 5”
Another question: who decides on this appointment which should be made official on November 28, during a new meeting of all the actors at Matignon? “The club of 5”, according to the words of a wise connoisseur. Namely, the AURA regions (with its president Fabrice Pannekoucke and his special advisor Laurent Wauquiez) and PACA (with Renaud Muselier) – rather pro Vincent Jay -, the French National Olympic and Sports Committee, the French Paralympic and Sports Committee (CPSF) – rather in favor of Martin Fourcade. With the State as arbiter which acted as guarantor with the signature of Prime Minister Michel Barnier.
While waiting for a difficult consensus, everyone is using their influence and their weapons. “Those who pay, decide”insists the Southerner Renaud Muselier. So AURA, PACA and the State with Matignon and the Elysée. Alexis Kohler, the influential secretary general of the Elysée, also discussed the French Alps 2030 with Michel Cadot, advisor to Michel Barnier on this issue. Did they mention the name of the future boss? The different firms are also working on the balance in the future board of directors.
Fourcade holds the rope well but…
In this very political issue, there are those who are lobbying. “David Lappartient does not contribute a cent but it is the armed wing of the IOC (of which he is a member like Fourcade, editor’s note)…” observes a close friend of the president of the CNOSF estimating that Martin Fourcade holds the rope well in the sprint but the games are not made. Remember that the IOC also actively participates in financing.
In money-time, we observe all the signs. Martin Fourcade, when asked, let us know “that unfortunately he does not communicate (anymore) on Alps 2030”.
Fourcade and Jay in the waiting room
But the media outing of the biathlon legend to declare his candidacy greatly annoyed the regions. More on the form than on the substance. The aura of the five-time Olympic champion may worry the holders of the file, some of whom would not have appreciated being warned the day before in the evening by a Whastapp message.
At the same level as the partners of the Pyrenees established on the banks of Lake Annecy which is now marking its mountain territory in small touches since this announcement. He must participate this Thursday, November 21 in Albertville at the Savoie Ski Committee in a private conference entitled ”From the 2024 Olympics to those of 2030”. “But he warned us that he would not talk about 2030,” a member of the organization told us. And from November 24 to 27, he is expected at the Etoiles du sport in Tignes.
Cadot exchanged with Vincent Jay
At the same time, Vincent Jay, who also battened down the hatches, is working on the file. The project manager for the AURA region participated in the general assembly of the French Federation of Alpine and Mountain Clubs (FFCAM) in Chambéry, pushing ice climbing to become a demonstration discipline in 2030. He is due to meet Frapna. In October, on the 11th, the Vancouver Olympic champion spoke with Michel Barnier then spoke with Michel Cadot. Was it a job interview? It may look like it. But in all cases, this exchange took place before the statement by Martin Fourcade on October 23on the eve of a first meeting in Matignon.
For the IOC, time is running out
There are still some unknowns in the equation to date. Has Martin Fourcade obtained assurances on the nature of the presidency of the COJOP which he wants to be executive to maintain autonomy while the creation of an executive office composed by the Club of 5 can have the appearance of a council surveillance? What about his requested salary, annual estimates of which range from €200,000 to €400,000?
In the absence of consensus on November 28, the appointment of the COJOP president could be postponed. An option which could annoy the IOC which has set the end of December as the date of installation of the COJOP… Time is running out.
