Beigbeder is currently leading an Annecy bid delegation at the 9th World Conference on Sports and the Environment here, where he is outlining Annecy's plans for the most sustainable Winter Games in history.

Annecy are considered outsiders in the race the 2018 Winter Games as they go up against Pyeongchang and Munich but Beigbeder feels the French city are showing themselves to be serious contenders ahead of the all-important vote in Durban on July 6 and his team are using the Conference in Doha to get their key messages across with more than 20 key International Olympic Committee (IOC) members present at the event.

"In France we share the IOC's commitment to the sustainable development of sport and have put this at the heart of our plans for Annecy 2018," said Beigbeder, who took over the Annecy bid early this year following the resignation of chief executive Edgar Grospiron.

"It is our duty to preserve our beautiful mountain environment.

"Under the guidance of the IOC we have been able to use this bidding process as an opportunity to develop a concept that could guarantee the sustainable future of Winter Sports.

"Annecy has a vision of an authentic Games in the heart of the mountains, with the athletes and for the future.

"We aim to implement plans for Annecy 2018 that can be used to benefit Winter Sports and mountain life all over the world.

"A Games in Annecy would be harmoniously integrated with the beautiful local landscapes, economy and the stunning mountains we love so dearly, including the world-renowned Mont Blanc.


"We will offer a best-practice model for staging sustainable major events that can be replicated around the world:  a blueprint for the future of our planet's mountains.

"Annecy 2018 will also create environmental champions and ambassadors inspiring and enabling local government, businesses, residents and visitors to our region to act in more environmentally-responsible ways.

"To do this we have adopted two key principles: first, a broad view of sustainability embracing social, environmental, economic, cultural, sports and governance themes.

"Second, a fully joined-up approach involving all key partners including: the city, region, national government, farmers, research agencies, citizen associations the private sector and international bodies.

"In addition the Games will serve as a catalyst for the development of important projects that are already underway including an Eco Resort Model, strategic public transport investment and new approaches to sustainable resource management.

"Our desire to stage a Games that would benefit the sustainable development of the mountains worldwide is one of main reasons we are working so hard to make this bid a success."

Annecy bid vice-president Jean-Pierre Vidal and French National Olympic Committee President Denis Masseglia are also part of the French delegation in Doha aiming to get Annecy's message across.

The conference itself was officially opened by IOC President Jacques Rogge while the theme for this year's conference is "Playing for a Greener Future."

The aim of the event is to assess the environmental success stories of the Olympic Movement; reflect on future challenges and explore new opportunities of mainstreaming the environment in the world of sport.

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