Following the announcement that Val d'Isère has been withdrawn as a venue for the 2030 Winter Olympics, the village's mayor was keen to react at a press conference on Thursday 7 December, ahead of the Critérium de la Première Neige.
Following the announcement of the International Olympic Committee's intention to " tightening up competition venues for ski events "The mayor of Val d'Isère (Savoie) and Isola 2000 (Alpes-Maritimes), who was the first to be named, expressed his disappointment, pointing out that his resort was one of the pioneers in France.
Val d'Isère, a regular at major events
" Ski racing is in our genes, we've been organising races since 1968. We've got the facilities, we've got the know-how, we've got the athletes, we organised the 1992 Olympics and the 2009 World Ski Championships, and now we're being left out of the process when we're just at the beginning of the discussion.Patrick Martin lamented.
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I just want to be part of the project! You can't imagine Paris without the Eiffel Tower, and Val d'Isère is the same. The Olympics can take place without Val d'Isère, but it won't have the same flavour.. The 2030 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games must be exemplary. Val d'Isère is a natural showcase for a virtuous mountain. I am determined to work with all the stakeholders to help organise sustainable Games that will be emblematic for France.
To try and win his case with the IOC, Patrick Martin has already written to the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister and the Minister for Sport. He also plans to discuss the matter this weekend with Laurent Wauquiez, President of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, who is expected in Val d'Isère for the Critérium.