Philippe Baudillon, CEO of the Paris 2012 bid for the Summer Olympic Games, has issued a statement refuting recent media reports that its Aquatic Centre won’t be ready in time for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games.
In his statement Baudillon said that Paris 2012 “has consistently stated in all official materials for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that the Aquatic Centre would be constructed between 2009 and 2011 and would be completed in time for the test events one year before the commencement of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games”.
He added that at no time did Paris 2012 state that the venue would be completed before 2011.
In the press release Baudillon stated that in the fall of 2004, FFN, the National Swimming Federation of France, explored the possibility of bidding for the 2009 FINA World Championships. They subsequently decided not to become an official candidate for the 13th FINA World Championships and accordingly informed FINA.
Baudillon said it was a decision not to bid, rather than a withdrawal from the bid, as was “mistakenly reported in some media”.
