The Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Bid Committee Wednesday received an endorsement from European Athletic Association (EAA). The French Capital is competing against Los Angeles, each hoping to host the Games for the third time.
The endorsement follows last week’s decision by the EAA to select Paris to host the 2020 European Athletics Championships after Georgia’s capital Tbilisi, the only other contender, withdrew from the race last year.
EAA President Svein Arne Hansen said “it is not just a question of Paris being the sole European candidate and the fact that continental sports organisations should back each other in this respect.”
“European Athletics has looked at both bids and we believe that Paris is the best from an overall perspective and specifically with regards to our sport.
“What is particularly impressive is the Paris 2024 commitment to sustainability, which is a very important area of interest to European Athletics.
“This ethos mirrors that of the Paris 2020 European Athletics Championships, which is also placing sustainability centre stage, something we have been pushing our organisers to do for a number of years through our Green Inspiration concept.”
The European Athletics Championships in Paris are set to take place August 26 to 30 in 2020.
Paris 2024 Co-Chair Tony Estanguet said “we are thrilled that European Athletics has lent its strong support to Paris 2024 and our bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
“We welcome the comments from President Svein Arne Hansen and believe Paris is the perfect partner to showcase the very best of athletics in our iconic city as part of an incredible celebration of sport in 2024.
“Paris continues to prove that it has what it takes to stage spectacular, world-class events and we are particularly pleased that our efforts to create a truly sustainable Games – the first in line with the Paris Agreement – are being recognized globally by those within the sporting community.”
French IOC Member Guy Drut said “we are proud to have the strong public backing of European Athletics and we can’t wait to welcome Europe’s best athletes to our city in 2020 and again in 2024.”
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will elect the winner of the 2024 Games on September 13, 2017 in Lima, Peru.
