The triple Olympic champion skiing champion, who is now a senior member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), has been criticised for not backing Annecy's bid more publicly.

But he claimed that he had been behind Annecy from the start of the campaign.

"I've been here since day one, behind the scenes, but effective," said Killy in an interview published today in Le Dauphiné libéré.

But he conceded that if the IOC had not been so critical of the bid last summer which forced them to make sweeping changes to their plans then their chances against Munich and Pyeongchang would have been zero.

"Until June 22, 2010, there were none or very little [chance]," he said.

"Today, Annecy is in the race although it will be very difficult."

Killy is now more optimistic of Annecy's chances of succeeding when the IOC picks the host city at its Session in Durban on July 6.

"We can organise spectacular Winter Games," he said.

"When you're talking about Chamonix, La Clusaz, Le Grand-Bornand, and Annecy a stone's throw from Geneva, there's no need to go into long-winded explanations.

"It speaks for itself."

Annecy's bid has had fresh life breathed into by the appointment of successful businessman Charles Beigbeder as the new President, who has been leading preparations for the start of the visit of the IOC Evaluation Commission next Wednesday (February 9).

He was brought into replace Grospiron, the 1992 Olympic moguls champion, who resigned in December, claiming that Annecy did not have the financial muscle to compete against Munich and Pyeongchang.

"I very much regret that he had to leave because he could not get assurances over the budget," said Killy.

"Some people thought Edgar was a man of money.

"That is ridiculous.

"He did not have an easy job but was well respected by IOC members.

"In retrospect the decision to make him chief executive was a mistake.

"Edgar should have been positioned as the co-President."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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