The Paris 2024 bid committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games announced the launch of a mobile app Monday that will allow athletes to communicate with the bid, which Paris 2024 says will make it easier for them to contribute their insights, ideas and suggestions. The app will be available for free on android and iOS, and will target 15,000 sports stars across France.
Last week the Paris bid launched a campaign to engage the public across France for input to the Olympic project. Though the bid is polling well across France and no referendum is planned, bid organizers are working hard to involve all stakeholders in the project in a significant way.
The athletes’ app that was first promised when the athletes commission was unveiled in March will feature several functionalities, including an option for athletes to have a say in the bid process which would allow them to draw on their experience and provide ideas and recommendations.
The app will also feature a “Discover Paris 2024” section that will outline the overall Games concept, a game centre, and a news and events functionality to provide push notifications to athletes alerting them to the latest bid news. An international version of the app is in progress and will be available in English in the coming months.
Members of the Paris 2024 Athletes’ Committee, Ludovic Besson, Thierry Omeyer, Gwladys Epangue and Jessica Harrison, will help promote the app within the athlete community and develop it with new ideas. They will lead a dedicated mobile learning session to guide fellow athletes on how to get the most out of the app as part of a wider online workshop on how to use other social media platforms in an effective and engaging way.
Tony Estanguet, Paris 2024 Co-Chairman said, “we’re delighted to launch the Athletes’ App that will align us even closer with athletes who know what it takes to live and breathe major sporting events.”
“Athletes are the heartbeat of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and it is vital that we draw up on their experience and knowledge as we continue to build our bid centered on innovation, inspiration and communication.”
Gwladys Epangue, Bronze Medalist in taekwondo at the Beijing 2008 Games and Paris 2024 Athletes’ Committee Committee membersaid “it is vital the athletes have a voice in the development of the Paris 2024 bid and the Athletes’ App provides the perfect idea sharing platform.”
“The app is fun to use and its flexibility and versatility makes it a brilliant engagement tool allowing athletes across France to input their views in-between their busy competition schedules”.
Last week Paris’ rival Los Angeles ramped up its engagement with athletes when it kicked off a series of Athlete Town Hall meetings with Olympians and Paralympians across the United States. Director of Athlete Relations Janet Evans on Thursday traveled to Fort Lauderdale, Florida to hold the first gathering.
Budapest and Rome are also competing to host the 2024 Games in a campaign that will run until September 2017 when the International Olympic Committee chooses a winner.
