Annecy Comité Anti-Olympique (CAO) - Annecy Anti-Olympic Committee - claim on their website to have gathered 13,649 signatures and are planning to hold a press conference tomorrow to highlight their concerns about the French city's bid.

"The CAO exists for two years, multiplying actions," they said in a statement.

"It aims to inform very precisely Haute-Savoie population not only on the excesses of the Olympics, the sport business, the financial stakes of multinationals and unacceptable demands of the IOC, but also on adverse impacts on the environment and on uncontrolled public spending with long-term debt for the Olympic city.

"We believe that the truth must be told.

"Annecy 2018 nomination is no exception to the rule of the denial of democracy, despite the repeated promises on budget transparency, nothing has been published.

"Are elected officials lying to us?"

Zidane, France's talisman when they won the 1998 FIFA World Cup, was at the top of a list of athletes released by Annecy 2018 who are backing the bid along with Marie-Jose Perec, the triple Olympic champion.


Other notable names on the list timed to coincide with 100 days to go until the International Olympic Committee (IOC) picks the host city at its Session in Durban on July 6 included Christophe Lemaitre (pictured), the first white runner to break 10 seconds for 100 metres who is from Annecy.

Charles Beigbeder, President of Annecy 2018, claimed that the public were fully behind the bid and the support of so many top athletes would help give Annecy close the gap on Munich and Pyeongchang, the favourites.

"Athletes are at the heart of this bid and have played a central role in helping us devise our plans," he said.

"We are delighted to have been able to unite the entire French sporting movement, including athletes of all disciplines, behind Annecy 2018.

"Their collective support and commitment in helping galvanise public support and promoting the bid around the world is vital as we enter the final straight in this campaign.

"We have had fantastic support from the public throughout this campaign and believe they will energise the bid team over the next 100 days."

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