Paris 2024 Hails Successful IF Visits

The Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games Bid Committee has today hailed the successful meetings and visits to Paris by International Federations (IFs) during 2016.

As part of a new element to the campaign process brought about by the introduction of Olympic Agenda 2020, Paris 2024 officials have been meeting with IFs since October to discuss all elements of Games planning including highlighting the city’s ultra-compact venue concept, the new Olympic and Paralympic Village plan, accommodation for athletes and IF officials, competition schedules and transportation.

The meetings and visits were in addition to previous IF discussions held at SportAccord 2016 in Lausanne and the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Paris 2024 looks forward to conducting further meetings in early 2017 and continuing its open and ongoing dialogue with IFs through to the end of the campaign.

All IF meetings in Paris featured cultural elements including a visit to the top of the iconic Eiffel Tower – from which you can see 80% of the proposed 2024 Olympic and Paralympic competition venues.

The visits were led by Paris 2024 bid leaders including Co-Chairmen, Tony Estanguet and Bernard Lapasset; CEO, Etienne Thobois; and Sports Director Jean-Phillipe Gatien. France’s National Federation representatives and French athletes also joined many of the visits illustrating that the nation’s sports movement is leading the bid, that Paris 2024 is fully committed to ensuring the best Games-time environment for athletes, officials and fans, and that the city will create a genuine sporting legacy as a result of the Games.

The IF visits were also supported by City and Region officials which reaffirms how the Paris 2024 bid, National Federations and local and national governments are working in total unity to create the ideal Games concept.

The IFs visiting Paris were represented by various leading figures including Presidents, Secretary Generals and technical staff. Paralympic representatives were also present where the IF has jurisdiction over the sport’s Paralympic disciplines.

Positive feedback from the meetings and visits focused on Paris 2024’s compact, city-centre Games plan which will see 85% of athletes located within 30 minutes of their competition venue, ensuring the best conditions for IF operations and for the athletes. Paris and France’s expertise in hosting major sports events was also a key part of the feedback with the city having staged more than 40 major international events since 2010.

Paris 2024 Co-Chair, IOC Member and triple Olympic Champion, Tony Estanguet, said:

"The IF consultation programme has been an extremely valuable addition to the campaign process and I would like to thank every single IF for taking the time to discuss our plans in detail, provide excellent feedback and, in many cases, visit us here in Paris. I would also like to thank the French athletes and National Federation representatives who provided excellent support during the visits. Insights from Sarah Ourahmoune (Boxing), Brice Guyart (Fencing), Sebastien Flute (Archery) or Gwladys Epangue (Taekwondo) have been very positive and enriching. This is further proof that athletes and France’s national sports movement are driving the bid forward.

"The French capital is one of the world’s most iconic and cosmopolitan cities with historic landmarks and breath-taking venues and our ultra-compact Games plan means that the city-centre itself will serve as the Olympic Park – providing optimal working conditions for IFs and world class venues in stunning locations for athletes.

"The city centre will be alive with fans travelling from venue to venue served by a first-class public transport system and Paris’ famous bars and cafes will overflow with locals and visitors creating a unique Olympic and Paralympic atmosphere in the centre of the city. This is our vision for a Games of passion and purpose in the very heart of a global city that delivers for IFs, athletes and the people of Paris and France."

Paris 2024 Sports Director and double Olympic Medallist in Table Tennis, Jean-Phillipe Gatien, said:

"During a Paris 2024 Games 85% of athletes will be within 30 minutes of their competition venue, 95% of our venues already exist or are temporary structures and all our facilities will offer meaningful legacies for the community. Our message to IFs is we have Games-ready, world-class venues; we will provide excellent accessibility and reduced travel time during the Games; and we will ensure that their sport lives on in our communities after the Games have ended through real legacy programmes.

"Paris and France has an extremely strong hosting track record delivering many major international Olympic and Paralympic sport events including the Tour de France, French Open Tennis, the 1998 FIFA World Cup, 2003 IAAF World Championships, 2007 Rugby World Cup, 2013 IPC Athletics World Championships, 2015 World Rowing Championships, Eurobasket 2015, and of course EURO 2016.

"France’s expertise in this area was a very positive part of the visit demonstrating the country’s highly professional approach to major event management, our nation’s love of sport and the strong relationships already in place with IFs. Our enviable track record proves that Paris 2024 can be the best partners for IFs and the Olympic and Paralympic Movements."

For more information, please contact:

Raphaël Leclerc

Paris 2024 Bid Committee

Email: rleclerc@paris2024.org

Tel: +33 6 73 16 88 06

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