Nawal El Moutawakel, head of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Evaluation Commission, told a news conference following the Evaluation Commission’s inspection of Paris’ 2012 bid, “we have to congratulate the bid committee on the excellent quality of its candidacy file and also for the very high quality of all its presentations, as well as for its exceptional team work and its professionalism”.
She added, “I’d like to point out the quality of the Paris dossier. I can tell you our visit was very, very productive”.
She also emphasized that the strikes during the IOC’s visit did not disrupt the commission’s inspection, adding, “we were also able to note a certain degree of partnership and discussion between the bid committee and the French Trade unions”.
On Friday French President Jacques Chirac pledged the “complete backing of France and the French people” for Paris’ 2012 bid. He welcomed the 13-member commission at the Elysee Palace Friday night. He said, “France is ready to become, for the 30th Olympiad, the homeland of the Olympic movement” and that the French people supported the bid with “all their heart”.
On Saturday, the final day of the IOC’s tour, the commission visited the suburbs and rode the Metro to appraise public transit. The IOC members rode the subway to the Bercy arena, prospective volleyball venue.
El Moutawakel travelled to Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Saturday where a proposed cycling track would be constructed. Other panel members went to Vaires-sur-Marne, which would host sailing and canoeing; and Colombes, where baseball would be played.
If Paris is awarded the Games France will mobilize a massive security force, officials told the IOC inspectors Saturday. Interior Minister Dominique de Villepin said “security is a key factor for the Olympic Games”.
In his presentation the Interior Minister said that France has the required capability, manpower and extensive experience so that all athletes, participants and visitors can take part in the Games in a completely safe environment.
Key elements of the Paris 2012 security plan included a well-defined chain of command in which the safety of all venues is placed under the authority of the Police Chief; and the safely of each Olympic and Parlaympic venue in the Region Ile-de-France or in other designated areas would be allocated to the Prefect of the local region.
There would be mobilization on a 24/7 schedule of 41,000 civil and military officers and military personnel, 3,200 firemen and 2,500 first aid workers.
France will also ensure the entry of athletes and spectators with the creation of a special visa.
If Paris is awarded the 2012 Games plans include a huge recycling project, utilizing solar power, and the creation of about 200 kilometres of cycle routes linking all Olympic sites.
Paris 2012 wants to ensure there will be no “white elephants” after the Games are over. The bid committee confirmed to the IOC Evaluation Commission Friday the interest shown by the French and International Business community regarding the post-Olympic use of the infrastructures. To date more than 40 French companies and 25 international organizations have expressed interest in occupying commercial space in buildings constructed for the 2012 Games.
In an interview with GamesBids.com Paris 2012 bid director Philippe Baudillon was asked how important the IOC’s visit was for the bid. He said, “we wish to prove to the IOC that we are ready to get the Games. The motto is correct – the love of the Games”.
He added, “we want to show that we are very good in each of the 17 categories. We didn’t start from scratch. We had the 2008 bid first in our hands and we worked to improve it and first we went and we quickly told all the IOC members and got their feedback about our proposal”. This bid is different, he said, because they already had the feedback from the IOC. Paris 2012 wanted the IOC to be involved in the process earlier than during the 2008 bid.
GamesBids.com asked how confident Paris 2012 was in being selected host city and Baudillon said, “very, very committed and we are committed to show what we want to show to the IOC, so it’s very difficult to know what is going to happen, so we’re going to fight until the end because it’s a…. (very, very important bid competition). We want to go as far as we can”.
And what happens next for Paris 2012 now that the IOC visit is over, Baudillon was asked. He said, “we have three months, 100 days, to make our international campaign. We have three big meetings which are allowed by the IOC” – in Berlin, Brisbane and Ghana.
