“We are aware of the disappointment this decision will cause to the people of Grenoble and the Isère region,” remarks Michel Destot. “It is our responsibility to preserve the financial balance of the local authorities.” The fake press release even went so far as to quote the Mayor of Grenoble who, due to the crisis period, had decided to withdraw the bid. Thus, another prank following the website www.grenoble-2018.fr which paradoxically launches a full-page “Go Annecy.”
Already under the yoke of a well-organized counter-power in the form of an anti-Olympic committee supporting the withdrawal of the Grenoble bid with 899 signatures collected, the city of Grenoble was thus hacked a few days before the official submission of the files to the CNOSF. A vulnerability that led to several phone calls to the Grenoble city hall and the Isère Department before a denial was eventually issued by the city of Grenoble.
All tactics seem to be fair game in the Isère region to destabilize a bid that fails to achieve the consensus of a city and a region.
The fake press release
