"Mr Beigbeder should send back his Légion d'honneur, which he deserves no more," said a spokesperson from the Committee.

"Those responsible for this fiasco should face the consequences."

The organisation revelled in their "victory", with Annecy comfortably defeated having received just seven votes in Durban last week.

"The Anti-Olympic committee is not hiding its pleasure and pride in contributing to this success.

"We have achieved our goal and the success of mobilising citizens to this cause is incontestable.

"Annecy and Haute-Savoie are liberated."

They were also highly critical of the €30 million (£26 million/$43 million) spent on Annecy's bid, which they say "could have been better spent elsewhere".

Annecy's bid was dogged by a number of setbacks, including the revelation in the weeks leading up to the final decision in a survey that half of Annecy residents were against the campaign to win the right to host the Winter Olympics.

"We thank the members of the International Olympic Committee who heard us and understood that Annecy did not want these Games," said the spokesman.

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