Senior Paris 2024 delegation to attend Rio 2016

The Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games Bid Committee has confirmed its delegation to attend the Rio 2016 Olympic Games where the bid will take part in the Rio 2016 Observer Program to listen, learn and gain invaluable insight during a live Games-time scenario. The bid will also share its unique vision to deliver not only a stunning Games, but also a long-term focus to promote Olympism in everyday life at the heart of Paris, in France and across the world. ‎

The senior Paris 2024 delegation will be led by and include:

Bid Co-Chairman, I‎OC Member and three-time Olympic Gold Medallist, Tony Estanguet

Bid Co-Chairman, Bernard Lapasset

IOC Member and Olympic Gold Medallist, Guy Drut

President of the French National Olympic Committee, Denis Masseglia

President of the French Paralympic Committee and Paralympic Bronze Medallist, Emmanuelle Assman

The Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo

Bid Chief Executive and Badminton Olympian, Etienne Thobois

President of the Île-de-France region, Valérie Pécresse

Olympic Bronze Medallist and World Champion in Athletics, Muriel Hurtis

The delegation will also be joined by:

§ President of the French Republic, François Hollande

§ Reigning Olympic Judo champion, Paris 2024 Athletes’ Committee Co-Chair and Team France Rio 2016 Flag Bearer, Teddy Riner

Bernard Lapasset, Co-Chairman of Paris 2024, said:

"We are delighted to be heading to Rio to take part in the Observer Program and to listen and learn from the Organising Committee and Olympic Family stakeholders in a live Games environment. We look forward to gaining valuable insights about the Games-time hosting experience and we are delighted to have President Hollande with us on this experience – underling the commitment, unity and top-down political support France has for this project.

"Citizens across Paris and France have a deep-rooted passion for Olympism and Olympic Sport. We are committed to developing a bid in the spirit of engagement and partnership with the IOC, the Olympic Movement, athletes and wider society that will deliver not only a spectacular Games, but also a longer-term focus on Olympism."

Tony Estanguet, Co-Chairman of Paris 2024, said:

"We travel to Rio with great optimism as our bid continues to evolve and develop. We are looking forward to sharing our pioneering vision for Paris 2024 with colleagues in the Olympic Family and of course celebrating the sporting action and the achievements of the athletes. I am also excited to be attending my first Games as spectator.

"Athletes are the heart and soul of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and this is why we have made them key architects of our bid – they know what it takes to compete at the highest level on the greatest sporting stage. In 2024 we will deliver a Games for the athletes by the athletes."

The Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, added:

"Paris is a city that inspires and sets trends – underpinned by a positive culture of sharing that drives forward the city’s growth and development. We are committed to bidding for the 2024 Games with new ideas and fresh concepts and our aim is to present an Olympic and Paralympic project that works in total harmony with Paris’s long-term sports, economic, social and environmental strategies and leaves a real legacy."

"I look forward to meeting many members of the Olympic Family in Rio in a Games-time setting and it will be an honour to listen and learn and share our vision for the 2024 Games."

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