Paris Enters Race Officially For 2024 Olympics Hosting Bid

Photo Courtesy: Benh

Paris, the final of the top candidates to host the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics officially submitted a letter of intent to the International Olympic Committee, bringing the number of interested cities to five.

Paris is vying to host the biggest sporting event for the third time, having previously put on the Games in 1900 and 1924. Mayor Anne Hidalgo was part of the group to sign the official letter sent to the IOC this weekend, according to an article by Inside the Games. The deadline for cities to submit letters to the IOC is Tuesday, and the only holdout is Toronto. Organizers from that city, where this year’s Pan American Games where held, have not publicly stated their full intent to enter the race.

Paris was memorably a part of a contentious bid process for the 2012 Summer Games, losing in the final round to London by four votes. Of the other four cities vying for the 2012 Games – Rome, Los Angeles, Hamburg and Budapest – haven’t bid for a Games that recently, which might give Paris a bit of the sentimental vote.

In addition to having hosted twice already, Paris hopes its advantages include having many iconic landmarks and a major familiarity among world citizens. The Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Arc de Triomphe and the Louvre are just a few of the landmarks that could figure prominently in its bid.

As will be common among the 2024 bidders, Paris must submit a bid that will conform with IOC policy that venues have a lasting legacy beyond the Games, either for sporting use or public use. As far as aquatic venues are concerned, Paris would need to build a new facility or use a large arena to construct a temporary pool. Most of the competition pools, including the one used for the 1924 Games, do not have adequate spectator seating for the more than 100,000 fans who usually line up to watch swimming at the Olympics.

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