Paris 2024 Holds Debate in Saint Denis

(ATR) The Paris 2024 bid committee held a town hall style debate on Thursday in Saint Denis.

Although polls in Paris show support for the bid, Paris 2024 leaders wanted to hold the debate to get a feel for the opinions those who will be most affected by the Games have on the candidacy. The debate marked the first public meeting for Paris 2024 officials since the launch of the bid.

The debate was held in La Courneuve, an austere suburb of Paris that will house the Olympic Village if Paris is chosen as the 2024 host city.

Paris 2024 co-president Bernard Lapasset and chief executive officer Etienne Thobois led the town hall meeting with approximately 100 people in attendance. La Courneuve Mayor Giles Poux, City Council president Stephane Troussel and former sports minister Marie-George Buffet were also on-hand for the meeting.

Lapasset opened the debate, describing the reasons for the Paris candidature and how the proposals outlined in the bid will be put into effect. Lapasset told the people of La Courneuve "we need you" to support the bid.

Thobois spoke next, showing the audience a map of proposed venues in the region that was received with mixed responses. Some in attendance lamented the placement of water polo in the region due to its limited popularity in the area.

Nearly half of the attendees exited as the floor opened to questions from the audience. The first remark from an audience member questioned the involvement of the citizens in the creation of the bid.

"We are a bit frustrated to have been little involved as citizens in the sports movement" the attendee said.

Another critic questioned the credibility of sport at a moment when doping and corruption scandals are souring opinions on the Olympic Movement.

"How do you make people dream? Today, one can wonder if people still dream of the Olympics with the image of sport that they see on television, between doping and business."

Lapasset and Thobois answered all questions head-on, stating that bidding rules would soon allow the bid team to participate more in schools and other associations affected by the Olympic project. The first stage of submissions by each candidate city is due to the IOC by Feb. 17.

Paris is competing with Budapest, Los Angeles and Rome to host the 2024 Games.

The IOC will choose the host city in September 2017.

Written by Kevin Nutley

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