Sparky

The skiing legend, Jean-Claude Killy, has dramatically stood down as President of the Organising Committee for the 2009 World Championships that are due to be held in his home resort of Val d’Isere.

Killy at Grenoble Olympics in 1968
Killy claims a lack of progress in the construction projects and a general malaise in the planning has caused him to walk away from the job. The resort is due to hold the competition February 3 – 15, 2009.

In his letter of resignation he criticises security measures, delays in building projects and the lack of appointment of relevant people to take the plans forward. It’s believed one project is the building of a sports complex in the resort. He says he hopes his departure will shock people into realising that action must now be taken.

Killy is an icon of French skiing and a hero to many after his triple gold medals at the Olympics in Grenoble in 1968.

The mayor of Val d’Isere, Berard Catelan, is reported to be disappointed at the news and has said Killy could remain on the board as an advisor if he wished.

There is no other comment available from the organisers and no mention of Killy’s sudden departure on either the 2009 World Championships web site or the Val d’Isere site.

We’ll bring you more news on Kily’s resignation when we get it here on The Ski Club web site.

Gilipsie

You can't really expect for him to want to work under those conditions. When you are involved in a situation so complex as that where no one wants to do their part, it makes their job hard.