In Albertville, Savoie, Michel Barnier leaves a good memory as co-organizer of the 1992 Winter Games

In the town where he grew up, Michel Barnier’s appointment makes several residents interviewed proud. They especially remember the role he played in the development of Albertville and the region thanks to the organization of the Olympic Games.

Michel Barnier, 73, was appointed Prime Minister on Thursday, September 5. National, European and also local roots. A Savoyard who grew up in Albertville, President of the General Council of Savoie between 1982 and 1999. He co-chaired and organized with Jean-Claude Killy the 1992 Winter Olympics, the Albertville Games. On site, his appointment makes people rather proud.

Avenue des 16e Jeux olympiques, there is the mast of the games, the symbol and the Olympic hall, today a concert hall, headquarters of the tourist office and the ice rink too. Fred works there as a technician. Michel Barnier at Matignon, he approves. “It’s still a source of pride, a Savoyard at the head of the country. It’s a good image, Michel Barnier, yes, we can say that. In relation to the Olympic Games, he was the co-organizer, with Jean-Claude Killy. It boosted the region: the roads, the TGV… and we’re known worldwide now. The infrastructure, it took us 20 years, let’s say. That’s why we want the 2030 Olympic Games.”

It is an athlete from the 1992 Games, Laetitia Hubert, who today coaches the skaters of Albertville, including the children of Malika and Agnès. “They take advantage of the Olympic ice rink. So the kids come here to train every day, tells the first. There is the flame that is regularly lit when there are events. Michel Barnier, he organized all that very well and the period of 1992 was great. In Albertville, there were a lot of opportunities and then, in 2030, we are apparently going back to the Games, so that’s nice!”

Michel Barnier, the man behind the Games which also ruined the finances, recalls a less complimentary resident. “We can talk about debt, but we can talk about investments, answers Mayor Frédéric Burnier-Framboret. During the Games, Albertville and Savoie developed enormously. This allowed access to the largest ski area in the world by a motorway or almost a motorway. In Albertville, this allowed it to have a hospital, high schools, a water treatment plant.”

“The city has two founding dates: 1860, its creation, and then 1992. Then we also hope for 2030, since the French Alps were chosen.”

Frédéric Burnier-Framboret, mayor of Albertville

to franceinfo

“All that was missing was a Prime Minister to sign the government’s commitment, continues the mayor. And I think that there, with Michel Barnier, we must be assured! He is a convinced Savoyard, pure juice. So a great joy to have Michel Barnier as Prime Minister.”

The context has changed, 1992 is not 2024, and environmentalists and mountain dwellers opposed to the Games intend to make themselves heard in the region and in Paris, now with the Savoyard Prime Minister.