French national soccer coach Laurent Blanc and his deputy Alain Boghossian, both winners of the 1998 FIFA World Cup, have thrown their weight behind the battle to host the Winter Olympics and Paralympics.

"For me, backing Annecy 2018 is helping to give French athletes an opportunity to participate, in front of their fellow citizens and on home territory, in a magic competition like the Olympic and Paralympic Games," said Blanc.

"Winning the 1998 World Cup in France is without any doubt the greatest memory of my career.

"Besides the immense joy of winning the most coveted trophy in the world, the team had a fantastic experience, buoyed up by the whole country for an entire month.

"It's a unique pleasure to have been able to share this victory with the French people, our real supporters."

Boghossian added: "France is a sporting nation.

"We have already staged a number of major sporting events, like the Football World Cup in 1998 of course, but also the World Athletics Championships in 2003, the World Skiing Championships in Val d'Isere in 2009 and the Rugby World Cup in 2007.

"We have also been selected to host Euro 2016.

"Annecy 2018 therefore represents a new opportunity for France to capitalise on its expertise and experience in organising international sporting events."

Florence Masnada (pictured with Blanc), double Olympic medallist in alpine skiing and Annecy 2018's Ambassador to the sporting world, welcomed the pair's backing, saying: "Laurent Blanc and Alain Boghossian are recognised champions in the world of professional football.

"Their current roles heading up the management of the French football team prove that former professional athletes have the ability to move into executive positions in sports management.

"Likewise, the team preparing Annecy's 2018 bid are also great champions, athletes from all disciplines who have competed at the highest levels and are now pooling their experience and technical expertise to build the Annecy 2018 project to host the Winter Olympics and Paralympics."


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