Paris 2024 Quashes Any 2028 Plan

(ATR) Paris 2024 co-chair Tony Estanguet says the bid cannot present a plan to host the 2028 Olympics if the IOC were to ask.

Estanguet spoke with AFP about recent reports of a possible double award by the IOC this September for the 2024 and 2028 Olympic Games. Yesterday, Los Angeles 2024 put out a statement saying its bid was "never been only about LA or 2024." Many interpreted the statement as LA accepting a possible 2028 award, although the bid maintained it is focusing on the 2024 Games.

Tomorrow, the IOC Executive Board will meet in Lausanne to discuss findings from a working group about the potential of a dual Olympics award. The IOC will then brief the media about its findings from the working group’s report and the next steps the IOC will take.Currently, the possibility of a dual award is impossible under the Olympic Charter and any proposal would have to be ratified at the 2017 IOC Session.

For Paris, the focus remains solely on 2024 because the feasibility of hosting the 2028 Olympics remains unlikely. Paris’ bid is contingent upon land set aside for its Olympic Village. If the bid were to lose at the 2017 Session in Lima, that land would cease to be available.

Estanguet maintained that he was in favor of a review of the Olympic bid process, but could not commit to 2028 negotiations.

"I think it's interesting to consider this new situation, to find a win-win agreement, to find probably the best solution for the Olympic movement, with two good cities," Estanguet said. "They offered us this new way of thinking for the Olympic movement. We are open to that, but we must also consider that we will not be able to propose a project for 2028."

Written by Aaron Bauer

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