Exclusive - Paris 2024 Chief Says Atrocities "Reinforce Determination"

(ATR) Bid leader Tony Estanguet tells Around the Rings that the Paris Olympic campaign will be "a little bit different" in the wake of the terror attacks that shocked the world.

A total of 129 people were killed and scores injured in last Friday’s Paris atrocities. France's president Francois Hollande called the attacks an "act of war" and vowed to wipe out the Islamic State terrorists. It was the deadliest peacetime attack in the country.

In an exclusive interview with ATR in Lausanne, bid co-president Estanguet said the French sports movement and the 2024 team "were all very shocked".

"We needed some days to just be in mourning for the tragedy but rapidly we realized we all felt that we had this responsibility, this feeling that reinforced the conviction and determination that we had to go," he said. "We didn’t hesitate one minute."

The three-time Olympic medalist in slalom canoe revealed that Paris bid leaders held a conference call last weekend to assess the implications of the massacre for their Olympic quest, saying the bid had aligned with the approach of French politicians in wanting to show the world they didn’t fear terrorists.

"Definitely more than ever we really want to promote our ideals, our values and sport has probably a role to play in fighting against these kind of problems," Estanguet told ATR.

"You have to carry on and admit that sport has great role to play. It’s a great vehicle for peace in the world."

The Paris attacks have had global repercussions, heightening security in cities around the world and at sports events following the targeting of the Stade de France by IS last Friday.

"Everyone is very concerned. We have received so much support… from all the bids, from all the world. It’s amazing how much people are encouraging us to be strong and to face this challenge," said the IOC Athletes Commission member.

Estanguet admits that the attacks will reshape the Paris campaign to secure the 2024 Olympics.

"I think this bid will be a little bit different because we can’t say that it will not have an impact on us," he said.

"But more than ever we want to continuewe want to reinforce what we started with the same passion and same conviction that we have great values to promote with this bid."

Asked if security planning would now be more prominent in the Paris bid strategy, Estanguet noted that security is "always a challenge", referencing the 7/7 terrorist attacks before the London 2012 Olympics.

"I am not really afraid about the security aspect because this is not only a question of sport," Estanguet said,claiming such issues went beyond sport and would be handled by government and law enforcement agencies.

The five-city battle for the 2024 Olympics ends in September 2017 with the IOC vote. Budapest, Hamburg, Los Angeles and Rome are the other contenders.

Does he think the Paris attacks will hurt the bid and influence how IOC members vote at the Session in Lima, Peru?

"We will see. I think it’s now part of the story," he said.

"We still have to remain focused on our strengths and we will more than ever continue to propose the best bid for France. We have a strong bid and we need the Games and we believe it could bring an added value for the international sports community."

After a day-and-a-half IOC and IPC bidding workshop in Lausanne, Estanguet said the Paris bid remains in confident mood.

"The feeling is very positive from now. We started the bid two years ago from the national sports movement and received one by one the support of the political authorities. Things are running very good at the moment," he said."Our duty is to keep on working as seriously as possible."

Asked if he was enjoying being co-president alongside World Rugby chief Bernard Lapasset, he said: "For me it’s a great opportunity, it’s a great challenge after being an athlete for so long. I like this process, I like technical things."

Estanguet left Lausanne for Prague last night where the Paris 2024 bid has a small presence at the European Olympic Committee’s general assembly on Friday and Saturday.

Reported by Mark Bisson

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