French Prime Minister Francois Fillon said the alpine town of Annecy would deliver the traditional Olympic values of respect and friendship and keep the Olympic flame burning here on Wednesday.
Fillon told the International Olympic Committee (IOC) members in Annecy's final presentation before they vote later on Wednesday as to who hosts the 2018 Winter Olympics that his government fully supported the bid.
Annecy, bidding to become the first French host of the Winter Games since Albertville in 1992, has been seen to be trailing in third place.
Long-time favourites and two-time runners-up Pyeongchang of South Korea and Munich, bidding to become the first venue to host both the Summer (1972) and Winter Games, are the two other candidates.
Fillon, who has been in his present post for just over four years, said he was a devoted skier and was convinced that Annecy would provide the values espoused at the heart of the Olympic Movement.
"I am a skier and my dream is the same as yours, a dramatic Olympic Games," said the 57-year-old.
"I dream of the Olympic values of respect and friendship which is inspired by our venue. This is the flame that Annecy proposes."
Sports Minister Chantal Jouanno, a 12-time national karate champion, said that it would be the first ever carbon neutral Games - something dear to her heart as a former ecology minister - and cited the great tradition of France hosting major sports events.
However, in a presentation long on words and short of snappy videos to break the speeches up - the double presentation of Pernilla Wiberg and Gwendal Peizerat resembled a Eurovision Song Contest presenting duo - it was left to their charismatic bid president Charles Beigbeder to inject some passion.
"It will be an authentic Games at the heart of the mountains," said the 46-year-old entrepreneur, who has done a great job in almost impossible circumstances since only taking over the post in January after his predecessor resigned.
"But also with a broader vision to meet the challenges of global warming and developing sport in the 21st century.
"We will stage a great party."
Beigbeder, who took the gloves off here earlier in the week and launched effective veiled attacks on his two rivals saying only Annecy stuck to Olympic values, paraphrased Abraham Lincoln's legendary phrase at the Gettysburg Address.
"It will be a Games from the mountains with athletes for the future."
However, the most symbolic image of the challenge facing them was in one of their films -- a man driving a snow plough up a vertiginous mountain.
Source: AFP Global Edition
