This afternoon, Guy Drut, former Olympic champion and member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), was with Éric Ciotti, UDR-RN candidate in the municipal elections of March 15 and 22, 2026, to publicly support his “friend” in his alternative project for the 2030 Winter Olympics. When sport and politics meet: Guy Drut brings his Olympic weight to Éric Ciotti’s alternative project.
Éric Ciotti showed himself favorable to hosting the Winter Olympics in Nice, but was keen to set clear limits on certain directions. “I am in favor of our city hosting these Winter Olympics. But I don’t want to just let anything happen,” he stated, emphasizing the need for a thoughtful and responsible project.
The Nice deputy pointed to the use of the Allianz Riviera stadium for certain events, which would deprive the local club, OGC Nice, of its venue for several months. To work around this problem, he proposes alternative solutions: converting the exhibition hall into an ice rink, renovating the Jean-Bouin complex and identifying other sites for temporary facilities.
The objective is twofold: limit public spending while creating lasting infrastructure. According to Ciotti, these developments would not only be functional for the Olympics, but would constitute a true legacy for the city, useful for sports associations and Nice residents long after the Games end. This approach demonstrates a desire to reconcile international ambition with local pragmatism.
Guy Drut’s support, a heavyweight in French sport
Former gold medalist at the Montreal Games in 1976 and silver medalist at Munich in 1972, Guy Drut has provided notable support for Éric Ciotti’s alternative project. The member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) confirmed that the body had been informed of the initiative and praised the Nice deputy’s approach, which he considers pragmatic and responsible. True to his philosophy of life and self-improvement, he had declared: “What matters is not winning, but surpassing oneself.”
The former Sports Minister specified that he would pass the documents relating to the project to the President of the 2030 Olympics Organizing Committee (Editor’s note: Edgar Grospiron), in order to give official visibility to this alternative and thus support his “friend”. For his part, Éric Ciotti assured that he would immediately launch detailed studies if his project was selected, to cost and materialize his proposals.
This meeting at Café Delfino illustrates the entry of heavyweight support into the debate on the 2030 Olympics, mixing sporting ambitions and economic realism. In conclusion, would the Olympic spirit not already be at the heart of this initiative? as Pierre de Coubertin recalled after all: “What matters in life is not the triumph but the struggle.” Isn’t it?
As a reminder: Guy Drut’s sporting career
- Discipline: 110 metres hurdles
- Record:
- Gold medalist at the Montreal Games (1976)
- Silver medalist at the Munich Games (1972)
- Several European and national titles
- Political and sports career:
- Deputy, mayor, Sports minister (under Jacques Chirac)
- Member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC)
NicePremium is a free, independent local news outlet.
Help us keep going by supporting our work from €5 per month.
