Cyril Linette, former CEO of ‘L’Équipe’ and PMU, is well-positioned to take on the role of CEO of the Organising Committee for the Winter Olympic Games Alpes 2030. According to ‘L’Équipe’, his appointment could be confirmed on Monday, April 7, during a board meeting of the Organising Committee, a month and a half after the committee’s creation and the appointment of Edgar Grospiron as president on February 18.
A DEMANDING SELECTION PROCESS
Grospiron, Olympic moguls champion in 1992 and current president of Alpes 2030, rejected the final four candidates selected from a total of 145 after interviews conducted on March 14. Subsequently, Jean-François Vilotte, CEO of the French Football Federation, declined the position, choosing instead to remain alongside president Philippe Diallo.
In a statement, Grospiron explained that the selection process had begun before his appointment as president and that he wanted to redefine the criteria to find the most suitable profile. “I want to lay solid foundations and surround myself with the right people to ensure the Games meet our ambitions,” he said.
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PRESIDENT-CEO DUO
Grospiron emphasized the importance of the relationship between the president and the CEO in an organising committee, referencing the success of the duo Tony Estanguet and Étienne Thobois in Paris 2024. “The president-CEO duo must work well together; there must be strong chemistry,” he stated on March 19 during the presentation of his roadmap alongside Sports Minister Marie Barsacq at the 144th IOC session in Greece.
CYRIL LINETTE’S PROFILE
Cyril Linette, who was previously a candidate for the presidency of the Professional Football League (LFP) in 2020, is Grospiron’s top choice for the position. Linette, a former journalist and head of sports at ‘Canal+’, is also the founder of The Fellow Company, a management consultancy. Although he has not commented on his potential appointment, his experience in management and communication positions him as a strong candidate to lead Alpes 2030.
HOSTING THE WINTER GAMES IN FRANCE
Linette will face the challenge of demonstrating the value of hosting the fourth Winter Olympic Games in France, following Chamonix (1924), Grenoble (1968), and Albertville (1992). In a column published in ‘Les Échos’ in February 2024, titled ‘Who still wants the Olympic Games?’, Linette reflected on the controversies surrounding Paris 2024, highlighting issues such as inclusion, ecology, and the costs associated with the Games.
“France wants ‘different’ Games. But the Olympic Games bring people together, pollute, and cost money. It is legitimate to question their value, and this will increasingly be the case,” Linette wrote.
FIRST STEPS FOR THE ALPES 2030
The Alpes 2030 Organising Committee officially began operations on March 24 at its offices in OL Vallée, next to the Groupama Stadium in Décines. During the April 7 meeting, Linette is expected to be introduced to the key stakeholders of the Games, including the two host regions, the Olympic and Paralympic Committees, the Ministry of Sports, and the Interministerial Delegation for the Games.
