By Emily Goddard at the 2013 CISM World Winter Games in Annecy

Jean-Luc Rigaut 300313March 30 - Jean-Luc Rigaut the Mayor of Annecy, has claimed there will be a future Olympic bid from the French city, although admits the community is not yet ready to put itself forward for the Games again.

Speaking here to insidethegames, he defended the failed bid for the 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, which were eventually won by Pyeongchang in South Korea.

Annecy received only seven votes from the IOC members in 2011 as Pyeongchang won the hosting rights for the 2018 Winter Games ahead of second placed Munich.

"I think we had a good local project," Rigaut (pictured top) insisted.

"You can see the French capacity and Annecy's organisation with these military games.

"I think it was because Korea was a candidate for the third time.

"We can understand that Korea has been chosen by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) members.

"In reflection we are working with the French Olympic Committee and the French Government to make the best international organisation, the best international organisation for a better relationship with the IOC members for the next time.

"We are always ready to make good organisations for a bid with different venues.

"We organise each year intern competitions and next winter we will have the biathlon World Cup and international skiing competitions and we are able to do that, we know that.

"But now French community isn't ready to put forward a new winter bid."

1VT0042 Jean-Luc Rigaut said the 2013 CISM World Winter Games demonstrates Annecy's capacity to organise international sport events

Rigaut went on to praise the CISM World Winter Games, which concluded here yesterday after attracting nearly 1,000 athletes, including Olympic and World Cup champions, from 40 nations to compete in biathlon, indoor sport climbing, ski orienteering, patrol race, short track speed skating, alpine skiing, ski mountaineering and cross country skiing.

"It's a good thing because we know athletes are here this week and most of them will be in Sochi next year," he told insidethegames.

"I think it's good to show that between sport and the army there is a union.

"For us it's good for the city because it also to show our capacity to organise international events and that we can welcome all the world.

"Annecy loves sport."

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