(ATR) Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo tells Around the Rings that her constituents have been patiently waiting for the Olympics to return to her city.
"I think we are in our moment because we are very confident we have the support of the French people… and I think it is the right moment for Paris 2024," Hidalgo tells ATR in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of the SportAccord Convention in Denmark.
Hidalgo was one of three people to present the city’s bid for the 2024 Games to Olympic stakeholders at the ASOIF General Assembly April 4. She was joined on stage by Paris 2024 co-chair Tony Estanguet and chief executive officer Etienne Thobois who highlighted the city’s world class venues and possibilities it could offer the Olympic Movement.
Hidalgo also met with IOC president Thomas Bach prior to the presentation to learn more about the final steps of the bid race that concludes Sep. 13 in Lima, Peru. The meeting did not include any discussion surrounding the working group established by the IOC to study the feasibility of awarding both the 2024 and 2028 Olympics this September.
Hidalgo tells ATR she believes it’s "a good idea" for the IOC to consider new bidding procedures but that Paris maintains its focus on the 2024 Games.
"It’s not very easy today for the mayors to say ‘we are candidates for the Olympic Games’," she says. "We can have a new way and we will help and have a big partnership with IOC members to find this new way, but today we are very committed to 2024."
She says 100 years between Olympics in the French capital is long enough for Parisians to wait to host the Games.
"When I talked to the French people, they are waiting for the Olympic Games, not in 10 years but in just a few years in 2024," Hidalgo tells ATR. "But we are partners with IOC members and we work together, but for us our bid is for 2024."
Paris is competing with Los Angeles to host the 2024 Summer Games.
Written by Kevin Nutley
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