Charles Beigbeder, the President of Annecy 2018, revealed that he had agreed the deals with Air France, GL Events, Havas Sports and Entertainment, Institut Merieux and LVHM.

"This money will allow us to be more efficient in the international promotion of our bid," said Beigbeder.

"It also shows the commercial potential of an authentic Games in France using the global sporting platform ofthe French Alps."

Annecy's campaign has been dogged by several problems, many of them caused by lack of financial resources.

It was the main reason that Beigbeder's predecessor, former Olympic moguls champion Edgar Grospiron, resigned as chief executive in December.

The French bid is widely considered to be the outsider in a competition that most experts believe is a battle between Pyeongchang and Munich.

"Our Games will be on a truly human scale, bringing the Games home after Chamonix 1924 to a region shaped by Olympism, a territory whose natural assets make it the leading destination in the world for winter sports," said Beigbeder.

"We want the Annecy Games to be a real instigator of initiatives showingthe way to what the mountains could be in the 21st century, supporting the longer termdevelopment of winter sports and mountainous regions around the world.

"Our aim is to reach out to the young people of this planet and stimulate their interest in the Winter Games.

"We still have work to do, but we have a great prize at stake.

"We are determined to win.

"We would like to thank the French people, the personalities and athletes who are supporting us and, of course, the 135,000 fans who follow us every day on Facebook.

"Their support is essential and we are counting on them."

Beigbeder was supported at the announcement by Jean-Pierre Vidal, the 2002 Olympic slalom champion who is the vice-president of Annecy 2018.

"As athletes, we have played a major role in the bid from the outset in the interests of putting sport and harmonious development at the top of the list of priorities," said Vidal.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is due to choose the host city at its Session in Durban on July 6.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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