Le Golf National course near Paris was chosen ahead of other bids from Portugal, Germany, the Netherlands and favourites Spain who were tipped to host the tournament in honour of the five-time major winner Seve Ballesteros, the patron of Spain's Madrid 2018 bid but who died earlier this month after a long battle with cancer.

But the European Tour resisted the emotional pull towards Spain and, at a meeting at Wentworth, instead selected the French venue to stage the 42nd edition of the Ryder Cup, an event increasingly seen as a major business opportunity.

The last time it was staged on the European mainland was at Spain's Valderrama in 1997, when Ballesteros captained Europe to victory.

It will be the first time France has hosted the biennial Europe versus United States match and Charles Beigbeder, the President of the Annecy 2018 bid, believes the surprise victory will help them in their bid to host the 2018 Winter Games as the French city goes up against Munich and favourites Pyeongchang in a three-horse race.

"This new success puts France's expertise in organising the greatest international competitions on centre stage," said Beigbeder.

"It highlights France as a global stage for sport and shares French passion for sport with the world.

"We hope for the same success for Annecy 2018 on July 6 in Durban."

France's Sports Minister Chantal Jouanno, an important member of the Ryder Cup delegation, is due to travel to Lausanne where she will be part of the Annecy team giving a technical presentation to the International Olympic Committee about their plans for 2018. 


Annecy are widely considered as the underdogs in the race for the 2018 Olympics after Munich and Pyeongchang received a better report from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Evaluation Commission last week.

But the French city are hoping to claw back ground before the final vote with a good account of themselves in Lausanne, where rivals Munich and Pyeongchang are also due to give presentations, which are seen as vital before the final vote at the IOC Session in Durban on July 6. 

Besides Jouanno, Beigbeder is due to be accompanied in Lausanne by former Olympic champions Pernilla Wiberg and Jean-Pierre Vidal, who are vice-presidents of Annecy 2018; Jean-Luc Rigaut, the Mayor of Annecy; Denis Masseglia, the President of the French National Olympic Committee; Guy Drut and Jean-Claude Killy, French members of the IOC and Perrine Pelen and Denis Barbet, athlete ambassadors of Annecy 2018.

"Today, more than ever before, our bid is on the right track," Beigbeder continued.

"This meeting in Lausanne will undoubtedly play a key role in the 'final sprint.'

"We will give it our all until July 6 to ensure that we have the full support of everyone with sport in their hearts.

"We are confident."

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