The competition will be the largest military sports event to be held in France with nearly 1,000 athletes from 40 countries due to take part.

The event, which is due to take place next year between March 25 and 29, will be only the second time that the Winter Games have been held, following Aoste in Italy three years ago, and Bachelet said the country is ready.

"France is extremely proud to host these Games, the largest military sports competition ever held in our country," he said.

"We have been working hard for months now, with the active support of our Government, local municipalities, and private partners, to make this event a popular success as well as an authentic celebration of sporting excellence and friendship between nations.

"Holding it in the Haute-Savoie, a setting that epitomises both winter sports and the close affinity that the armed forces has for this area, is particularly meaningful.

"Members of the military have helped write skiing and mountaineering history for decades now."


General Pierre de Villiers, major-general of the French Army, has also predicted a successful event, which Annecy was awarded at the end of 2011 ahead of Sochi, host city of the 2014 Winter Olympics and Paralympics.

"I can assure you that the Minister of Defence, Jean-Yves Le Drian, fully supports this major event," said de Villiers.

"On one hand, he supports because of its guiding philosophy of friendship through sport, and on the other because it provides the Ministry of Defence with an opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to developing and promoting sport at the highest level."

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