IOC inspection team visits Paris' proposed Olympic venues

Published May 16th, 2017 - 08:11 GMT
Paris and Los Angeles are the only bids after the withdrawal of Boston, Hamburg, Rome and Budapest.
Paris and Los Angeles are the only bids after the withdrawal of Boston, Hamburg, Rome and Budapest.

The International Olympic Committee's evaluation committee on Monday toured the sites where Paris is proposing to hold the 2024 Games.

The nine-strong inspection team visited rival bidder Los Angeles last week.

The committee visited venues that included the Eiffel Tower, the Stade de France in the northern suburb of Saint-Denis, and the nearby site proposed for the Olympic village, organizers said.

The inspectors are due to meet newly-elected French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday morning - an opportunity for Macron to "forcefully and enthusiastically reaffirm the state's commitment to Paris' bid" to host the 2024 Games, the Elysee said.

Chief inspector Patrick Baumann has praised the Los Angeles bid, quoted as saying during his visit there that the city had "no major risks" and offered venues which were "spectacular," "impressive" and "mindblowing."

Paris and Los Angeles are the only bids after the withdrawal of Boston, Hamburg, Rome and Budapest.

The IOC is due to choose a host city at its session in Lima on September 13.

A working group is also looking at the possibility of a double vote for the 2024 and 2028 Games, which could see the 2024 loser getting the 2028 Games.

The four-strong group will report to the IOC board meeting in July in Lausanne, Switzerland when LA and Paris will make formal presentations of their 2024 bids.

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