IOC Sochi Architect Endorses 2022 Olympic Field

(ATR) Jean-Claude Killy tells Around the Rings he thinks the IOC has three "very strong" 2022 candidate cities but is coy on a bid from Paris for the 2024 Games.

In an exclusive interview, the Frenchman who helped mastermind the success of the Sochi Olympics denies that the IOC has been left with a weak field of contenders for the 2022 bid race. The departure of Lviv due to Ukraine’s political instability followed referendums rejecting bids from Stockholm and Krakow.

Almaty, Beijing, and Oslo were named as candidate cities by the IOC last week.

"I consider that the three candidate cities selected by the IOC Executive Board are very strong and offer great potential to host the 2022 Olympic Winter Games," said the ski legend and former French IOC member.

"The three of them have original concepts and can play on different strengths and opportunities. That is what is important for the IOC."

Killy, who chaired the IOC coordination commission for Sochi 2014 since 2007, quit the IOC in March after 19 years. But in the IOC’s corridors of power, Killy’s voice wields significant weight after his crucial role in aiding the fast-track big build for the Sochi Games that were acclaimed as a success.

He chaired the IOC co-com for Turin 2006 and was vice chairman of the IOC watchdog for Salt Lake City 2002.

Olympic Games executive director Gilbert Felli last week admitted to a media briefing in Lausanne that the IOC had to take responsibility for the loss of "good cities" early in the 2022 bidding race, a reference to Stockholm and Krakow as well as Munich, whose proposal was voted down last November.

Killy was asked by ATR why potential Olympic bids were having such problems gaining public and governmental support.

"A project of the size of the Olympics is always complicated to set up and organize," he replied.

"We have over the last decades enjoyed very strong bids coming from various parts of the world and, as a result, very successful Olympic Games. In the context of the Olympic Agenda 2020, starting with the IOC Session in Sochi, the message has been heard that a bid is not a response to a unique value proposition.

"A bid must fit in a given context, taking into consideration long-term development plans of cities and communities; it has to be useful for the short- and long-term evolution. This flexibility is needed both on the IOC and bidding cities side."

Like Felli, he said the IOC has a duty to improve its communication and cooperation with potential bids to help deliver viable propositions that are both palatable to the public and the Olympic Movement.

"The IOC can support the cities in the very early stages and help them maximize their potential," the 70-year-old said.

"The next thing is to accept different models and evaluate each project for their uniqueness. Finally, the IOC has to be able to produce content [and] information based on previous successful editions of the Olympic Games to assist the cities in better selling their bids."

Paris 2024 Bid Possible?

Paris is mulling a bid for the 2024 Summer Games with a decision expected later this year or early next.

Killy would not be drawn on whether he thought Paris should bid for the 2024 or 2028 Olympics – or at all.

He said only that "a bid represents an extraordinary opportunity to think about the long-term development of a city using the energy and catalyzing power of the Games."

"London, an extraordinary city on all accounts, showed that it is possible to host those Games which are meaningful to the community in terms of transformation and inspiration," he added. "As a result, London is an even more appealing and exciting city. I have no doubt that the same positive legacy would materialize should the Games be hosted in Paris."

Killy, who entered the IOC in 1995 after co-chairing the organizing committee for the 1992 Albertville Winter Games, quit in March after accomplishing his mission of delivering the Sochi Games.

"I'm stopping because after Sochi, at my age, after spending seven years campaigning for Russia, it's difficult to find something as rewarding and exciting," the triple Olympic champion told L'Équipe.

Written by Mark Bisson

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