French Olympians and Paralympians who won medals at the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games today joined the President of the French Republic, Francois Hollande, at the Elysee Palace for a special celebration to mark Team France’s record-breaking performance at this year’s Games. Following his attendance at the Olympic Games in Rio to meet athletes and support the Paris 2024 bid, President Hollande today reaffirmed the top-down, cross-party political backing for the bid.
The Rio 2016 Olympic Games were the most successful ever for Team France athletes who brought home 42 medals, including 10 Gold, across a range of sports. A total of 396 French athletes competed in Rio – another record for Team France. The 126 French Paralympians competing at the Games also won 28 medals, including nine Gold.
The athlete delegation at the Elysee Palace today was led by Paris 2024 Athletes’ Committee Co-Chairs Teddy Riner (double Olympic Champion, Judo) and Marie Amelie Le Fur (triple Paralympic Champion, Athletics).
A full list of the Olympians and Paralympians who attended can be seen in the Note to Editors section.
The following members of the Paris 2024 Bid Committee were also present to pay tribute to the fantastic achievements of the athletes:
· Paris 2024 Co-Chairman, Bernard Lapasset
· Paris 2024 CEO and Olympian, Etienne Thobois
· Paris 2024 Sports Director and double Olympic medallist, Jean-Philippe Gatien
· Paris 2024 Advisor and Olympic Champion, Thierry Rey
· Paris 2024 Deputy CEO, Michaël Aloïsio
President of the French Republic, Francois Hollande, said:
"I would like to congratulate all of our Olympians and Paralympians for their fantastic performances at Rio 2016. Their hunger and desire to compete at the very best of their ability for their country is a huge inspiration to us all. Their passion, spirit and enthusiasm will continue to spur us on as we aim to bring the Olympic and Paralympic Games to Paris in 2024."
Bernard Lapasset, added:
"This wonderful celebration of elite sporting performance and Olympic values fills us with inspiration and fuels even further our ambition to deliver a thrilling Games of passion and purpose with real benefits for Paris, France and the rest of the world in 2024. The athletes are the heartbeat of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and this is why we have made them the architects of the bid. We will continue to harness their ideas, energy and drive as we fine-tune our bid plans.
"I would like to thank President Hollande for welcoming us here today. Following the President’s attendance in Rio to visit the athletes and support our bid, this celebration is further proof of the top-down, cross-party political commitment from the French government towards the Olympic Movement, the Paris 2024 bid and elite sport across the country."
Paris 2024 Athletes’ Committee Co-Chair and double Olympic Champion, Teddy Riner, said:
"It is amazing to be here at the Elysee Palace with my fellow Olympians and Paralympians for a great celebration of our record-breaking achievements at Rio 2016. It is every athletes dream to compete at the Olympic Games, so to compete at a home Games would be truly incredible. The Paris 2024 bid has huge support from France’s athlete community and the national sports movement will continue to put their collective energy into bringing the Games to Paris and delivering a spectacular celebration of sport and Olympism in 2024."
For more information, please contact:
Rob Fawdon
VERO Communications
Email: rfawdon@verocom.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0)7769 216 649
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