Edgar Grospiron quit as chief executive last month following a row over funding, insisting that Annecy did not the resources to compete with rivals Munich and Pyeongchang.

The former Olympic moguls champion said that "sports taught me to be honest and not to cheat" and "my mission is to win but with the time we have left and with the budget we have, I can't".

Beigbeder, a successful businessman, has begun a campaign aimed at raising spirits among Annecy's bid team and launched a new focussed international-drive designed to pull off an unlikely victory.

Annecy has less than six months to convince the International Olympic Committee (IOC) members that they should vote for them at the Session in Durban on July 6.

"We have to go from being the underdog to top dog," Beigbeder told insidethegames in an exclusive interview.

The plans to narrow the gap to Munich and Pyeongchang include supporting a new Paris-based sports agency to promote France abroad.

The scheme is the idea of Guy Drut, the 1976 Olympic 110 metres hurdles champion and a former French Sports Minister who is now a member of the IOC.

It has already been approved by current Sports Minister Chantal Jouanno and will begin working with Annecy.

Beigbeder has acknowledged that Annecy is struggling to compete financially with its rivals but he is prioritising raising new funds.

"It is true that Edgar was right," he said.

"There is the need for additional funds.

"But more will come from the private sector.

"Leading French firms have already called me asking how can they help.

"That was a problem and we have solved it.

"We are not the favourites but the relaunch of the candidatacy is there and taking place every day.

"We know that in a competition like this things evolve every day.

"We have six months do to it and I will do everything I can to make it happen."

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