Heads of state have become an important feature at IOC voting sessions, with then British Prime Minister Tony Blair playing a crucial role in bringing the 2012 Olympics to London prior to the vote in Singapore in 2005.

More recently, then Russian President Vladimir Putin campaigned tirelessly in the closing hours for Sochi as they secured the right to host the 2014 Winter Olympics in 2007.

Beigbeder, who took over as President of Annecy's bid in January after chief executive Edgar Grospiron stepped down citing a lack of financial support, is confident Sarkozy will follow suit in South Africa to help the underdogs topple their two 2018 bid rivals, Munich and Pyeongchang.

"I am sure he [Sarkozy] will be there but I cannot confirm it," the successful businessman revealed today here at SportAccord.

"We are trying our best to have strong support from the very top, top of the Government.

"He [Sarkozy] loves sport and he loves Olympism."

The Annecy Bid was left in tatters last year when the IOC warned the French city that they needed to dramatically alter their plans and make them more compact if they were to be allowed to continue to bid, but their hopes suffered further when Grospiron resigned.

But Beigbeder has turned the situation around and the IOC Evaluation Commission praised Annecy's new, compact plans when they visited the city in February.

The Annecy campaign now enters a critical phase here at SportAccord as the French city and its two rivals are all set to give presentations tomorrow, as well as lobbying hard with only three months left until the vote in South Africa.

The Annecy 2018 presentation will include Beigbeder, French IOC members Jean-Claude Killy and Guy Drut, President of the French Olympic Committee Denis Masseglia, Mayor of Annecy Jean-Luc Rigaut and French Sports Minister Chantal Jouanno.

"We would like to thank SportAccord for giving us the opportunity to present our vision of an authentic Games in the heart of the mountains that would seek to benefit Winter Sport worldwide," said Beigbeder.

"I am looking forward to standing in front of the delegation with such a strong team representing both the strong support for this bid and France's dedication to Olympism.

"Sport Accord London provides a great chance for us to do this and we thank the organisers and Olympic family for their warm hospitality so far."

Killy added: "As I said following the IOC Evaluation Commission visit, Annecy is back in the race.

"The bid committee is working well.

"This bid is authentic, sincere and of a high sporting quality.

"In my role as an IOC member, I will be supporting it all the way to Durban."

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