The region emerged as a candidate for the Games in July when it jointly announced its interest with Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.

It hopes to submit its project to the International Olympic Committee's Future Host Commission for the Olympic Winter Games, which plays a leading role under the new process for awarding the multi-sport event, by the end of this month.

Its plans have been advanced by the appointment of Jay, a surprise gold medallist at Vancouver 2010 in the men's 10 kilometres sprint race.

The now-retired 38-year-old also won bronze in the 12.5km pursuit in the Canadian city, and has administrative experience as director of the Sports Club of Val d'Isere.

His appointment as project director was confirmed on LinkedIn.

France has emerged as a strong late contender to stage the 2030 Winter Games, for which the bidding process has been delayed after difficulties securing a host.

The French Alps bid has received support from the French Government and French National Olympic and Sports Committee, which recently elected an IOC member and International Cycling Union President David Lappartient as its President to steer it through the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics and Paralympics following the shock resignation of Brigitte Henriques after a tumultuous two years.

The proposal is expected to include some venues from the last time France staged the Winter Games in Albertville in 1992.

Its interest has led to Romanian IOC member Octavian Morariu being replaced as chair of the Future Host Commission by Austria's Karl Stoss because he holds dual nationality with France.

The IOC had initially hoped to finalise a host for the 2030 Winter Olympics and Paralympics at next month's Session in Mumbai, but this was shelved with long-time frontrunner Sapporo's hopes dashed by the Tokyo 2020 corruption scandals in Japan, Vancouver in Canada failing to receive British Columbia Government support, and Salt Lake City in the United States preferring to stage the 2034 edition.

The onset of global warming and a reduction in suitable host cities has led to fears for the future of winter sport, and the IOC is considering a rotational system of cities and countries to ensure the viability of its multi-sport event.

Following on from Milan Cortina 2026, a second consecutive edition of the Winter Games in Europe appears likely with a national bid from Switzerland for an unspecified future edition under consideration and Sweden hoping to launch a fresh proposal for 2030.

The IOC now hopes to secure a host for the 2030 Winter Olympics and Paralympics by the time of Paris 2024, although an added complication is that under the Olympic Charter, France could not be awarded the Games at the Session it is set to host in its capital city.