French NOC Chief Calls for Unity Behind Paris 2024 Bid

(ATR) Denis Masseglia has urged stakeholders in the French sports movement to "work hand in hand" to make the country’s 2024 Olympic dream come true.

Speaking at the general assembly of the French NOC (CNOSF), Masseglia told delegates that with all eyes on the Rio Olympics, "France is also thrilled by the idea that Paris could host the 2024 Olympic Games".

He said the founding members of the bid committee – the government, NOC, the City Hall of Paris and the regional council of "Ile-de-France" – should keep their eyes on the prize in September 2017, when the IOC will vote on the 2024 host city.

"We need each one of you to win. We need to remain united to show that France –not just the sport movement but all the French population – supports the Games," Masseglia said in his opening speech to the conference in the French capital.

"We are optimistic and we need to keep on working together. We want French citizens to be at the core of the project, particularly by encouraging them to actively take part in the consultation process launched by the Paris 2024 Olympic bid committee.

"We want to work hand in hand with all of you to make this Olympic dream come true."

Budapest, Los Angeles and Rome are competing against Paris for 2024 hosting rights.

"It’s necessary to win the race for 2024 in order to show the strength of the sports movement, and hence the strength of the institution which represents it," Masseglia said.

Rio 2016 Potential

The French NOC is looking ahead to Rio 2016 with optimism.

The French Olympic Team will be the largest ever and has the potential to break its medals record, Masseglia said, echoing the optimism of the NOC’s chef de mission France Luyce, president of the French swimming federation.

Masseglia added: "We are confident and strongly back our athletes and their staff."

The French flagbearer for the Rio Games, elected by the athletes, will be announced on July 24 at the end of the Tour de France.The athlete’s nomination at the French NOC’s headquarters in Paris will be accompanied by a screening of "Race", the film about Jesse Owens’ participation at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.

Masseglia said ‘Club France’, the French NOC’s hospitality venue in Rio, will stage an opening reception on Aug. 6, the day after the Olympics open.

The NOC is set to make the most of the opportunity to showcase French sport, which will serve to benefit the Paris 2024 bid. The IOC has strict restrictions on international promotion for the 2024 bids themselves until spring next year.

"We will create a place that will be remembered by everyone," Masseglia said. "Together we will show the world how France loves the Olympic Games and intensely desires them to serve them at the best."

Amid the ongoing repercussions from the Russian doping scandal and the reaction from the IOC, WADA and wider sports world, the French NOC president also shared his thoughts about the issue to the assembly.

"The zero tolerance policy is increasingly becoming the rule and it's for the best," he said."It’s our duty to protect and promote clean sport and athletes. The World Anti-Doping Agency and the IOC as well as international federations and NOCs have made this a priority.

"Of course, every institution has to stay in its role but I’m convinced that we have to act together so that the phenomenon can be eradicated."

He added: "The sport ethic is and has to remain a priority for all."

Reported by Mark Bisson

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