The South Korean city of PyeongChang has won its bid (after 2 previous attempts) to host the 2018 Winter Olympics. It won in the first round with 63 votes, against 25 for Munich. Annecy came in last, with a paltry 7 votes. As the result was announced, the leader of the Annecy bid Charles Beigbeder burst into tears. "I am extremely disappointed... it's brutal, it's sad...". The disappointment was shared by the entire Annecy delegation, none of whom expected such a bludgeoning. "It's severe, but Annecy gave all his heart", said the despondent Jean-Luc Rigaut, Mayor of Annecy. Asked whether the IOC wanted to send a signal to France, Guy Drut, a member of the institution responded: "It's a heavy defeat. But, more than the defeat of Annecy or Munich, I see the victory of PyeongChang". During the break between the vote and the result, Guy Drut was approached. "Some IOC colleagues approached me about (France) being a strong Summer Games candidate.... ". We're thinking of Paris 2024... Such a decision would be taken by the Comité National Olympique et Sportif Français (CNOSF) which meets on Tuesday, July 12th. The extent of the Annecy defeat would appear to rule out any new winter bid in the short term. Le Dauphiné
