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IOC hails Paris 2024 Olympics project as 'exceptional'

A delegation from the International Olympics Committee, currently in Paris to evaluate the city's candidature to host the 2024 Olympics after an earlier visit to its only rival, Los Angeles, said the French capital's project was 'an exceptional and well-detailed bid presentation'.

La rédaction de Mediapart

This article is freely available.

The International Olympic Committee's (IOC) evaluation commission hailed the Paris 2024 bid presentation as 'exceptional' and 'well detailed' at the end of the opening day of a three-day visit to the French capital on Sunday, reprots Reuters.

"Our friends of Paris 2024 presented us with an exceptional and well-detailed bid presentation," Patrick Baumann, chair of the commission, told a news conference.

Baumann, however, was careful not to put Paris ahead or behind its only rival, Los Angeles, which was visited by the evaluation commission earlier this week.

"They are two outstanding cities, each with its typical aspects," the Swiss said. "There is a strong Olympic spirit in both cities."

The commission's visit officially started on the day French president Emmanuel Macron, a fervent supporter of the Paris bid, took power.

Centrist Macron, who was elected last Sunday after beating far right leader Marine Le Pen in the run-off, will meet the commission's members on Tuesday at the Elysee Palace.

"We appreciate the message of support [for the bid] he has already sent us," said Baumann.

"I will be on your side in your enterprise for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games," Macron had said in a speech at the Paris City Hall a few hours after his election.

An air of uncertainty has been hanging over the bidding process with the IOC considering a proposal that would mean the 2024 and 2028 Games both being awarded on Sept. 13 during a congress in Lima.

While Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti softened his stance on the subject this week by saying "any Olympic win is an Olympic win", his Paris counterpart Anne Hidalgo on Sunday said that Paris was ready "right now".

Pressed by the media on the matter, the Paris team and Baumann said only 2024 was being assessed.

"We are still in a process where we assess a potential candidacy for 2024," said Baumann. "2024-2028 is not a matter of discussion."

Read more of this report from Reuters.