French Government All In For Paris -- 2024 Bidding Roundup

(ATR) The government of France is on the hook for a billion dollars should Paris win the bid for the 2024 Olympics.

According to figures obtained by the French newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche, the exact cost is $1.12 billion. That overall total includes $822 million for investment, divided between $284.9 million for sports facilities, $159.2 million for housing and $377.8 million for land management.

In addition, the French government has promised $226.2 million for a "contingency reserve" and $68.4 million for "running costs" tied to the delivery of equipment by a public entity for the 2024 Games.

Secretary of State for Sports Thierry Braillard says that all of the money will be invested for "social utility" for the people of France after the Games. He also says that the pledge of a billion dollars will not be jeopardized should there be a change in government.

LA 2024 Moving the Media Center

Los Angeles 2024 bid organizers are changing the venue for the main media center as part of their latest proposal.

The adjustment was part of the second Candidature File that was officially submitted to the International Olympic Committee last Friday, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The main media center is moving to the campus of the University of Southern California, which was already earmarked to house media representatives.

But it means the media center will now be at a separate location from the proposed broadcast facilities, which are staying at NBC Universal’s studio lot.

The latest deal with USC follows LA 2024’s roadmap to use existing stadiums, arenas and other infrastructure to keep costs under control.

For example, the athletes will be housed at UCLA, the city’s other major university.

Budapest, Paris and Rome joined Los Angeles in submitting their files to the IOC last week.

But the Rome bid team announced on Tuesday that it was suspending its campaign after failing to get the backing of the city’s government.

Budapest Adds to Hosting Duties

Budapest is adding more wrestling events to the list of its hosting duties.

United World Wrestling recently selected the 2024 Olympics bid city to host the 2018 Wrestling World Championships and the 2017 U-23 European Wrestling Championships.

Budapest will be hosting the 2016 Non-Olympic Weight Wrestling World Championships in December.

Some of the events slated for 2017 in the Hungarian capital are the European Water Polo Championships in January, the European Aquatics Championships in May, the European Open Water Swimming Championships in June and the FINA World Aquatics Championships in July.

The Judo World Championships will also be held in Budapest next year.

The IOC votes on the 2024 Olympic host at its Session in Lima, Peru in September.

Written by Gerard Farek

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