This partnership is part of the broader momentum of major sporting events set to take place in the French Alps by 2030. It also represents a key milestone in preparation for the 2028 Winter Youth Games, an international student competition led by GEM and included in its EAGLE 2030 strategic plan. This initiative will complement the annual editions of the GEM Altigliss Challenge and contribute to the momentum of the 2030 Winter Olympics, for which the French Alps will serve as one of the host regions.

Learning to lead an international competition

Each year, nearly 100 students from GEM, members of the Altigliss association and enrolled in a dedicated extracurricular track alongside their Grande École Program, design and run the GEM Altigliss Challenge as a true international competition.
From managing institutional partnerships to overseeing communication, logistics, social responsibility, and finances, the association operates like a fully professional organization. With a budget close to €1 million, students orchestrate an event supported by partners such as Salomon, Oakley, Procter & Gamble, Red Bull, KPMG, and Ski Truck.

Challenges and events to explore the mountain

The competition week in La Plagne will be structured around three main challenges:

• Ski Challenge – 39 teams participating. Five events certified by the French University Sports Federation (special slalom, giant slalom, ski cross, and parallel slalom), organized in collaboration with the École du Ski Français of La Plagne.
• Mountain Challenge – 23 teams participating. An immersion in the Alpine environment with snowshoeing, avalanche transceiver search (DVA), biathlon, and ski touring.
• Village Challenge – 28 teams participating. Friendly and inclusive activities such as SNOOC and snow volleybal. , strengthening the festive and international spirit of the event.

Two decades of handigliss: inclusion in action

The GEM Altigliss Challenge also places a strong emphasis on inclusion through the Handigliss event, which brings together students and elite para-athletes in a giant slalom race.

In previous editions, participants have competed alongside athletes such as Céline Derouallière, a member of the French para-alpine ski team, and Mathias Menendez, a snowboarder from the French para-snowboard team.

Olympic athletes trained at GEM

Through its Sport and Management Institute, GEM supports numerous high-level athletes in balancing an outstanding academic path (in Bachelors and the Grande École Program) with a demanding sporting career.

GEM students notably distinguished themselves at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympic Games:

• Emily Harrop: Olympic champion in the ski mountaineering relay (silver medal) and Olympic vice-champion in the sprint
• Marielle Berger: 4th place in ski cross and honorary ambassador of the ski cross event at the GEM Altigliss Challenge

These achievements illustrate GEM’s commitment to developing talents capable of excelling in international competitions.

Commitments and certifications

Through certified competitions, initiatives supporting parasports, a structured eco-responsible approach, and close collaboration with local stakeholders, the GEM Altigliss Challenge contributes to the sustainable promotion of sport and mountain activities.
The 2026 edition strengthens this momentum with:

• FFSU Label (French University Sports Federation): This certification confirms the sporting recognition and national and international credibility of the event, now officially listed in the calendar of university competitions.
• Handinamique Label: This certification attests to the quality of hosting and the concrete commitment of the GEM Altigliss Challenge to inclusive sports, which is one of the event’s core pillars. The Handigliss Day, one of the three highlights of the week, is entirely dedicated to parasports and the promotion of para-athletes.
• Écofest Label, awarded by the Impact association, recognizing the event’s environmental and societal commitment.