Christian Monteil, chairman of the Annecy 2018 Supervisory Board, revealed after a meeting with Jouanno that she had promised to help find more funding once the bid's international marketing strategy is clearly defined.

It follows claims led by Annecy 2018 chief executive Edgar Grospiron - and backed up by French International Olympic Committee (IOC) members Jean-Claude Killy and Guy Drut - that their bid was faltering because it lacked the financial resources of rivals Munich and Pyeongchang. 

Monteil had responded by promising that that there would be an increase in the budget from €18 (£15 million/$20 million) of up to €22 million (£19 million/$29 million).

But Jouanno demanded to know where the extra €4 million (£5 million/$6 million) was going to come from - making it clear that it was unlikely to come from the Government.

A compromise now appears to have been reached which means that Jouanno will use her influence to try to help Annecy raise extra funds.

"It was a very constructive session and I would like to thank Chantal Jouanno both for taking the initiative to organise the meeting and for her support for the bid," said Monteil, who was accompanied by Drut.

"All the parties involved in this tremendous project will now be sitting down together with decide upon the measures which need to be taken to strengthen the bid for the international phase.

"We will then be in a position to identify the appropriate resources.

"For the time being, it is quite naturally up to the Supervisory Body to take steps to consolidate the bid's international promotion strategy, based on the first rate Bid Book we shall be submitting to the International Olympic Committee on the 11th of January."

Denis Masseglia, the President of the French National Olympic Committee, has conceded that Annecy is lagging behind its rivals but claimed that they can still turn it around before the IOC votes on which city to choose at its Session in Durban on July 6 next year.

"We are now four or five months behind Munich and Pyeongchang - we all know this," Masseglia told Associated Press.

"But we are competitors and we are going to do everything we can to win with the help of a very good project.

"This is not all about money.

"We still have seven months ahead of us before the IOC makes its choice.

"I'm sure there are a lot of IOC members who have not made their decision.

"We all agree to say that we are facing a difficult situation and that our rivals are in front, notably regarding the financial means, but as long as the finish line is not crossed this is not over."

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