In a media statement the City of Paris refutes a report in the Evening Standard that Paris, considered the front runner in the bid for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, “has been dealt an embarrassing blow to its attempts to host” the Olympic Games.
The newspaper said that French officials have received a letter from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) ordering them to remove flags that were decking Paris streets and landmarks. The flags proclaimed Paris’ status as one of five “candidate cities” and were displayed because the Olympic torch will be passing along those routes Friday. Strict rules ban any candidate from hijacking the torch relay to advance its own bid.
The statement said that “Paris 2012 is committed to strictly respect the rules set up by the IOC in the Candidature Acceptance for the” 2012 Games and was very sensitive to the guidelines surround the upcoming Torch Relay.
The Paris media release said that Paris has received a letter from the IOC, the same as all candidate cities, reminding them of the rules surrounding the Olympic Torch Relay. That is why the city of Paris consulted with the IOC Ethics Commission regarding the Paris flags and banners that have adorned the city since May 24, 2004 as part of the program to mobilize national public support of the bid. It went on to say that following this consultation, the City of Paris removed all (500) of the Paris 2012 banners and flags along the route of the Olympic Torch Relay in Paris.
The release said the IOC did not send any specific letter ordering or asking the City of Paris to remove the banners. As the 1,000 remaining banners are not on the route of the Olympic Torch Relay, they can and will remain in place.
An IOC spokesman confirmed to the Evening Standard that letters had been sent to all five candidate cities reminding them of the rules surrounding the Olympic torch. He said they could only promote their bids nationally and not during international events such as the torch relay.
