FRANCE HAS DECIDED to make an official bid for the 2018 Winter Olympics and Nice is one of three cities that have official launched bids to the French Olympic Committee. Yes, the same Nice that is located on the French Riviera wants to host the winter games. I'm not sure how that will work, although Christian Estrosi, the Mayor of Nice, made the case in a press conference on Wednesday. Among his arguments: 1) there are world class ski resorts closer to Nice than the mountains that hosted the ski events in Torino, 2) the principality of Monacco is eager to be part of a Nice games, 3) Nice has mild winters. (Huh!)Count me as skeptical. I love this part of France, but it seems to me that winter Olympic games should be held in more traditionally 'winter' cities. I know that Torino doesn't really fit that bill (nor does Vancouver, for that matter), but I've just got a thing for small snowy villages -- I just think they make better backdrops for Olympic events (think Albertville or Lillehammer).
The other cities in France that expressed official interest are Grenoble and Annecy. My early pick would be Annecy (wonder what our friends there think about it). France will announce it's choice in March of next year.
CJS
2 comments :
I don't know how I feel about Annecy possibly hosting the Olympics. The city is just not large enough to hold all the people, and where the hell would they build the Athletes Village? Most of the events would be near Albertville & Grenoble anyway (i.e. an hour or two away from here.)
Im all on for 2018 !! .There are some excellent resorts close to Nice, perhaps not as commercialised as the typical package holiday haunts but some great skiing in Auron, Isola 2000 and Valberg. As Nice and Cannes are so accessible,only 90 mins away, accomodation would be plentiful should the winter olympics be held in the area.These resorts have everything their more well known contemporaries have and more. Im off to ski in Auron for the second time since late December and love it.Huge ski area, almost empty slopes, restaurants, efficient lift system and lots of snow !
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