Paris announced its bid for the 2024 summer Olympics Games on Tuesday, becoming the fourth city to officially declare its candidacy to host the event.
"We have the support of the state, of local authorities and of the sports world," Bernard Lapasset, chair of the bid committee, said. "We are happy to be here in the home of sports. With this group (of supporters), we will win!"
The announcement, made at the French Olympic Committee headquarters, was attended by dozens of French athletes who applauded the official launch. It has been in the works for months, but had to receive the approval of city councillors and other officials.
"I am happy and excited by this energy, this passion and this hope," said Paris Mayor Anne Hidalo, who was initially seen as reluctant to support the bid for the Games. "We are going to build a beautiful victory for Paris and our country."
If it beats confirmed bidders Rome, Boston and Hamburg, and other cities that are expected to throw their hats in the ring, Paris will break a 100-year gap since the last summer Games were held in the French capital. The city hosted the Olympics in 1900 and 1924 but failed with bids for 1992, 2008 and 2012.
The bid is expected to cost some 60 million euros (63 million dollars). The budget for the Games, if Paris wins its bid, has been estimated to be 6.2 billion euros - mostly devoted to infrastructure development.
