Annecy had attempted in 2005 to run for the 2014 Olympics immediately after Paris lost the 2012 Summer bid to London, but the French Committee vetoed the bid. Annecy is not giving up that easily and is determined to host the Olympics. Jean-Luc Rigaut, the mayor of Annecy, says that there are many reasons why Annecy and the Haute-Savoie should be selected. He cites the vast domain and the proven ability of the region to host world cups in almost every Winter Olympic discipline. French towns will have until mid October to declare their candidacy and the French National Olympic Committee will make its selection in March. Other likely contenders include Grenoble, Gap, and Nice. The Olympic Committee will make its final decision in July 2011. Although other countries haven't had to make their regional choice yet, other likely sites include Garmisch, Tromso, Santiago, Are, Sapporo and Sofia. Chamonix hosted the first ever Winter Olympics in 1924. Grenoble has already hosted the Games in 1968, and nearby Albertville (Savoie) hosted the games in 1992. Until then we can look forward to the Vancouver (Canadaian) Winter Games in 1010 and the Sochi (Russian) Winter Games in 2014.
