Click here to see the Jean Vuarnet in Morzine
On Monday of this week the town of Morzine unveiled a sculpture commemorating 5o years since Jean Vuarnet won the Gold Medal in the Downhill at the Winter Olympics, in Sqaw Valley
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1960_Winter_Olympics
The unveiling was a grand occasion, covered by the national news, a feel of which can be gained by watching the video I have linked to above. The Maire of Morzine (Jean-Louis Battandier) referred obliquely to a controversy involving Jean Vuarnet in during his speech. This raised some eyebrows for the new comers to Morzine. We see Jean Vuarnet’s name all the time around and about Morzine and Avoriaz, obviously there is the Gold Medal which is reason enough for Morzine to promote their link with this famous name, those of us who were not around in the 60′s will know the name Vuarnet thanks to the brand of sunglasses. If you read about Avoriaz you will always see his name mentioned, Vuarnet was heavily involved with the development and promotion of Avoriaz in the late 60′s and early 70′s.
The controversy is salacious and ultimately very sad. Some information and links below.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Vuarnet#cite_note-2
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,983915,00.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_the_Solar_Temple
