Leadership Search for 2030 Winter Olympics Committee Intensifies After Martin Fourcade's Withdrawal
A diverse pool of eight to nine candidates has emerged to lead the organizing committee for the French Alps-based Winter Games, with tensions surrounding the process continuing.
- Michel Barnier, tasked with initiating the 2030 Winter Olympics organizing committee (Cojo), confirmed receiving eight to nine applications for the presidency by the February 10 deadline.
- Notable candidates include Edgar Grospiron, a 1992 Olympic ski champion, Nathalie Péchalat, former ice sports federation president, and journalist Gérard Holtz.
- Martin Fourcade, initially favored for the role, withdrew last week citing disagreements over governance, vision, and local engagement in the project.
- The creation of the Cojo has faced delays and internal tensions, with regional governments reportedly opposing Fourcade's leadership despite support from the French state and the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
- The IOC awaits the Cojo's organizational structure, expected to be finalized by February 18, as discussions on venues and project adjustments continue.
Ouest-France 
Le Nouvel Obs 