Organizers of the 2030 French Alps Olympics confirmed on Wednesday, February 25, the departure of their CEO following weeks of internal turmoil. They said the exit of Cyril Linette, who was at loggerheads with Edgar Grospiron, the former Olympic champion freestyle skier who leads the organizing committee, was formally acknowledged during a meeting of the executive board last weekend.
Organizers said the decision reflected a collective desire for a “new momentum through renewed governance” ahead of a key phase of their project. Tensions have multiplied in recent months, against a backdrop of several resignations, culminating in open conflict between Grospiron and Linette. Their feud was just the latest episode in a saga of turbulences that have weakened the project.
Linette had been in his post since last April, personally chosen by Grospiron. His resignation follows those of chief operating officer Anne Murac, communications director Arthur Richer and head of the remuneration committee, Bertrand Mรฉheut.
‘Irreparable differences’
In early February, a statement from the stakeholders in the 2030 Games โ the French government, the two southeastern host regions (Auvergne-Rhรดne-Alpes and Provence-Alpes-Cรดte d’Azur), and the Olympic and Paralympic committees โ explained they had “noted irreparable differences between president Edgar Grospiron and the chief executive Cyril Linette,” adding they had given their go-ahead to Grospiron to “conduct the required discussions” and “propose the most convenient solution.”
Grospiron appeared on Wednesday before a Sรฉnat committee devoted to discussing the crisis affecting the leadership. He refused to divulge what the disagreements between himself and Linette had been, saying they were covered by a “confidentiality clause.”
The 56-year-old admitted not everything was sweetness and light. “These difficulties we are experiencing must be looked at clearly, their existence cannot be denied,” he said. “To get over them we have to act methodically, rigorously, and as a team.” Grospiron conceded the crisis had prompted “a little delay” for several dossiers such as partnerships, venues and additional sports. “The delays we have had for these subjects has absolutely no impact on the delivery of the Games,” he said. “All of them are progressing.”
On Monday, before a ceremony in which the Olympic flag was officially raised in Albertville in the Alps, French Prime Minister Sรฉbastien Lecornu weighed in. “Everyone must be at their battle stations and pull in the same direction to bring 2030 to fruition,” he said.
The French Alps Winter Games have always been on the tightest timeline of any modern Olympics. Like this month’s Milan-Cortina Olympics, the French Alps planned to split between snow sports in the mountains and skating in a snow-free city, Nice on the French Riviera.
Speed skating events are likely to be held abroad at an existing venue to avoid the high costs of building a suitable rink, with the Thialf Arena in Heerenveen or the Oval Lingotto in Turin among the contenders. A definitive map of the sites has yet to be adopted and is expected to be decided by the end of June.