French NOC President Optimistic About Paris 2024 Prospects

(ATR) The leader of the French Olympic Committee tells Around the Rings that the Paris 2024 bid is gaining traction.

On Friday, Denis Masseglia told ATR that "every day something positive happens for a bid from France."

His comments came hours after French president Francis Hollande said he supports a French 2024 bid.

"I am in favor of the city of Paris, if it decides to, putting in a bid for the Olympic Games of 2024," Hollande was quoted by French news agency AFP in a French television interview on Thursday.

"For Paris, capital of France, capital of culture, it's very important."

While Hollande is warm to a bid, Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo does not share the president's enthusiasm.

"I want to tell you that nothing and no one will change my schedule and method, in particular with regard to the Paris bid for the Olympic Games, in 2024 or 2028," Hidalgo said at a press conference on Friday.

"We are in a financial and budgetary position today that does not allow me to say that I am making this bid," she was quoted as saying.

Earlier this week, French sport leaders were updated about the work of 12 commissions who have spent this year seeking to answer the question of why an Olympics would be good for France. A feasibility study on the technical and financial aspects and results of a study of the global context for a 2024 bid will emerge in January, and be used to help France decide whether to pursue an Olympic bid or drop the plan.

France has not hosted a Summer Olympic Games since the 1924 games in Paris.

Olympic committees from Germany, Italy, the United States, UAE and others are also considering a bid for the 2024 Olympics.

The IOC will select a host city for the 2024 Olympics in 2017.

Written by Andrew Murrell.

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