(ATR) Bid officials confirmed to Around the Rings Wednesday that a government cash injection of $3.3 million had boosted campaign coffers. This includes the arrival of 11th sponsor Caisse des Depots, a state body which invests in the economic development of the country.
Annecy 2018 bid president Charles Beigbeder, who last month replaced former CEO Edgar Grospiron at the helm following a budget dispute, today said he was confident of bringing other sponsors on board in the coming weeks.
"I have several other projects with private companies which need to be finalized. The money doesn't make everything, but it's important to promote the bid. More money will allow us to be more ambitious," he told the Associated Press.
The budget announcement came as Around the Rings learned that media chief Alexandra Carraz has left the bid along with two senior press officers.
ATR was told that Beigbeder had ordered the bid's PR to be brought back to Paris under the control of Havas, the global communications group.
The sudden change in PR strategy coincides with the appointment of noted bid and marketing expert Andrew Craig, who is charged with ensuring Annecy bid operations run smoothly for the visit of the IOC Evaluation Commission Feb 9 to 12.
Beigbeder told AP: "Of course we can't betall our money on him, but it's certainly an extra something for us. Promotion is really important and we need to use the best people."
The IOC inspection team led by Swedish IOC member Gunilla Lindberg will scrutinize all aspects of the bid. French IOC members Guy Drut and Jean-Claude Killy are expected to play a major role for the bid next week.
"I am excited about this and am determined to help make this bid the best it can be," Craig tells Around the Rings from Detroit, where he is based.
A Briton whose resume includes auto racing as well as the successful bids of Vancouver, London and Sochi, Craig says he is poised to travel to Annecy this week to help with preparations for the IOC's visit.
Craig says he responded to a government tender for an international consultant for the bid.
"It’s an excellent, excellent bid, with tremendous winter sports experience," Craig says about the potential of Annecy.
While he notes that the bid team has had its share of organizational issues such as the CEO change, Craig says "none of that takes away from the actual plan for the Games".
Written by Mark Bisson
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