Tension remains high between Renaud Muselier and Éric Ciotti following the transfer of ice sports events from the 2030 Winter Olympics to Lyon. During the unveiling of the emblems of the 2030 Olympics, the president of the South Region attacked Nice’s symbol. The mayor replied on social networks and then in the municipal council.
The conflict between Renaud Muselier, president of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region, and Éric Ciotti, mayor of Nice, continues to surface in the 2030 Winter Olympics matter.
Since the announcement of ice sports events moving to Lyon, exchanges have multiplied between the two political leaders. Renaud Muselier had already reacted to this decision in a statement: “Éric Ciotti wasted, in two months, six years of work and an Olympic adventure. He wants to turn his failure into political combat.”
On Thursday, June 18, during the presentation of the official emblems of the 2030 Winter Games, the president of the South Region again targeted the symbol of the Azure Coast capital. “It’s no longer an eagle, it’s a fried chicken! Nice is dead. (…) There will be a mascot but it certainly won’t be an eagle. Nice’s Eagle is plucked, it’s a rotten chicken. It’s terrible, but that’s how it is.”
A golden eagle installed in front of the mayor of Nice
Éric Ciotti’s response first came through social networks. The mayor of Nice posted the following message: “Gross vulgarity in service of insulting Nice residents. Three more months to put up with this crude character before his escape to the Senate. Good luck to all the senators.”
Friday, June 19, when the Nice municipal council opened, a new response took on a more symbolic form. A small golden eagle statue was placed on the mayor’s desk. No comment accompanied this gesture.
This sequence comes as the two officials have been opposing each other for several weeks over the organization of the 2030 Winter Olympics. Initially, Nice was to host the ice sports events as well as the closing ceremony. The refusal to organize hockey tournaments at the Allianz Riviera led to the transfer of the entire ice hub to Lyon.
At the same time, Renaud Muselier continues discussions to keep the closing ceremony in the South Alps. On ICI Provence, the president of the South Region said he had submitted two new proposals to the Olympic Games Organizing Committee and the International Olympic Committee.
“We had the closing ceremony in Nice, but since we lost Nice, normally we lost the ceremony”, said Renaud Muselier.
The regional president also mentioned the economic consequences of this decision: “it’s five years of work that fell apart in two months”, estimating the loss between “800 million and one billion euros.”
Among the options being studied is Lake Serre-Ponçon to host the closing ceremony of the 2030 Winter Games. A decision is expected in the coming months.
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