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Annecy Haute-Savoie 2018

Wednesday 18th March 2009
Annecy Haute-Savoie on course for 2018


The Winter Olympics in an exceptional playground, between the eternal snow on Mont Blanc and the purest lake in Europe ?  A real life size issue!

Wednesday 18th March 2009, the Olympic national body designated Annecy and the Haute-Savoie to represent the French candidature to host the Winter and Paralympics Games 2018.

The "Venice of the Alps", the heart of the top world winter sports destinations, is thrilled to the core by the nomination and is in preparation for its Olympic ideal. Expertise of top level competitions, cost control guaranteed by the existence today of 70 % of the required sporting infrastructures, quality of transport and accommodation, are several trump cards of a brilliant candidature brought by a region historically dedicated to nature conservation.

Annecy / Haute-Savoie 2018, is also a popular momentum relayed by a host of personalities from the world of sport, business, politics, art, all united behind a formidable project for area planning.

Offering the most stunning of shows to sport and the whole world...

The ambassadors:

Bernard Accoyer, President of the National Assembly
Yann Arthus-Bertrand, Photographer
Sandrine Bailly, Biathlon World Champion (2003)
Antoine Dénériaz, Downhill Olympic Champion title holder
André Dussollier, Actor
Edgar Grospiron, Olympic Ski Mogul Champion (1992)
Aimé Jacquet, Ex-head coach of the French football team
Frank Riboud, Chairman of the Danone group
Marc Veyrat, Master Chef

18 trump cards for 2018:

The Haute-Savoie (710 000 inhabitants), historic cradle of the Winter Olympic games (Chamonix in 1924) and French winter sports.

The beauty of the town of Annecy, nicknamed « Venice of the Alps », on the edge of the purest lake in Europe, an idyllic setting for an outdoors opening ceremony in front of 50 000 spectators.

A unique natural setting overlooked by Mont-Blanc (roof of Europe at 4810 m), which benefits from one of the world's best snow records.

An outstanding playground, at the heart of the world's premier ski area and the top winter sports destination (75 255 km ski area, 110 ski resorts in the Savoie are amongst the most renowned in the world).

A true European crossroads, a border area with Switzerland and Italy.

A recognised expertise in the organisation of world conferences (G8) and international competitions: 60% of alpine and Nordic ski competitions are in the Haute-Savoie.

Games with cost control and dedicated to nature conservation due nearly 70% of the necessary infrastructures already in place.

An optimal density of event sites, guaranteeing a high level of performance for the athletes and fluidity of journeys between the sites.

A natural breeding ground for champions : 50 Olympic medals of which 15 are Olympic champions, 8 Paralympics champions.

Easy and secure access to the sites thanks to a high quality transport network (3000 km of roads, 200 km motorways, rail).

4 airports including 2 international ones nearby (Geneva 30 mins away and Lyon/St Exupéry 1hr away).

A dynamic local sporting environment with 1290 clubs, 111 497 members and 81 different sports carried out in the Haute-Savoie.

An enthusiastic associative movement, which rely on a network of regional voluntary members.

A region historically tuned to nature conservation . The candidature is aiming for zero carbon emission.

An impressive economic basin (top French department for its concentration of small businesses, one of the lowest employment records in France...) combing industry and high technology activities.

The Savoie has a capacity of a million beds, with a range of 3 and 4* hotels, the largest in the world for ski resorts.

A strong gastronomic tradition, both convivial and exclusive (symbolised by Marc Veyrat, the only chef in history to have been awarded 20/20 in Gault & Millau).

A richly authentic region, attached to tradition and its mountain values .