(ATR) IOC president Thomas Bach met with French President Francois Hollande and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán Thursday in Lausanne.
Both meetings were timely as the Paris city council approved a resolution in favor of bringing the games back to the French capital on Monday. Budapest may also join Boston, Rome and Hamburg as candidates for the 2024 Games.
The French bid is expected to receive the final green light from the national government in June. Hungary's national Olympic committee is scheduled to convene next month in consideration of also joining the race.
Bach and Hollande met early evening at the Olympic Museum, the French leader concluding a two-day state visit to Switzerland. Hollande was accompanied by French IOC members Tony Estanguet and Guy Drut.
"This is a fantastic opportunity for the entire nation to be ready for 2024," said president Hollande. "We know there are steps and procedures to follow. Like in all competitions, there are rules to be respected. We received a lot of information today and we are thankful to the IOC," he added.
The IOC president said France "has a lot to offer to the Olympic Movement'.
"The entire country is behind this candidature. We also learned today that Paris 2024 will focus on the post-games legacy of the venues. This approach fits perfectly within the spirit of Olympic Agenda 2020," he added.
Hollande’s trip is the first state visit to Switzerland by a French president since Jacques Chirac's stopover 17 years ago.
The primary objective for Hollande’s visit was to mend fences pertaining to a lengthy tax evasion issue with its’ Swiss neighbor.
Orbán has been in Lausanne, where on Tuesday he signed the host agreement with swimming's governing body FINA for the 2017 world championships and world masters championships in Budapest. He toured the Olympic Museum and spent time with Bach on Thursday.
The Hungarian capital was scheduled to host swimming’s marquee event in 2021, but stepped up four years sooner after Guadalajara withdrew in February. The Mexican city advised it could no longer afford to host the event due to the fall in oil revenues.
During the museum visit, the two leaders discussed sports’ role in society and changes to the bidding process for the Games.
The Hungarian Prime Minister praised Bach's "Olympic Agenda 2020" which is aimed at reducing costs amid concerns that the Summer Games have become too large.
"Now this age is over," Orbán said. "That provides a good chance for Hungary and Budapest."
Orbán advised that most investment projects needed to host the Olympics are already underway intended for completion in 2024.
"To organize the Olympic Games in Budapest is not an exceptional challenge for us," Orbán told the Associated Press.
Budapest has bid unsuccessfully for the Olympics on several occasions, most recently for the 1960 Summer Games.
Paris is seeking to host the Olympics for the third time and on the 100th anniversary of the 1924 Games. The French capital has also failed in bids for the 2012, 2008, 1992 and Olympics.
The IOC deadline for 2024 applicant cities is September 15.
Written by Brian Pinelli
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