The Cojop takes out the fire extinguisher. After three resignations in two months, the organizing committee for the 2030 Olympic Games tried to reassure on Wednesday evening about its objectives and affirmed that its two leaders were discussing “responsibly”, while Le Parisien and other media reported on Tuesday numerous abuses in the functioning of the organizing committee and tensions at the head of the body.
In a press release, Cojop said it wanted to “express itself to clarify the framework of its action and reaffirm its priority: the preparation and success of the Olympic and Paralympic Games” which will take place in the French Alps. “Aware of the difficulties encountered, President Edgar Grospiron and his Managing Director Cyril Linette are discussing responsibly in the interest of the project. These exchanges are not intended to be shared outside the organization,” says Cojop.
After the resignation at the beginning of December of the director of operations of Cojop, Anne Murac, followed on January 23 by the departure of the director of communications, Arthur Richer, it was the president of the remuneration committee, Bertrand Méheut, who slammed the door on Monday. In a letter relayed by several media, the former president of the Canal + group and ex-boss of the PMU points out a “significant drift which leads (him) to doubt the success of the project, whether in terms of deadlines and costs”.
“Not intended to comment on articles”
Regarding the governance of Cojop, “it is supposed to be dual, which no longer appears to be the case. The president, accompanied in principle by an executive general director, behaves as if he were president and general manager, beyond any control, without having the competence,” criticizes Bertrand Méheut.
“All of the Cojop French Alps 2030 teams are fully mobilized and focused on their mission, as well as on the sequence of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Games, which constitutes a structuring step in the trajectory of the French Alps 2030 project,” affirms the committee. Priority must now be fully given to sport and those who bring it to life. Cojop is not intended to comment on press articles, but to move forward in a determined manner on all of its priority projects. A mission relating to the organization and operation of Cojop was launched. »
This mission “will integrate all recent developments into its diagnosis, in order to formulate operational recommendations in favor of stability, clarity of governance and efficiency of the organization”, Cojop also calling “the parties concerned to guarantee the smooth running of the mission, in a spirit of collective responsibility”.
