Paris 2024 Showers Macron With Praise

(ATR) Paris 2024 co-chair Tony Estanguet is showering plenty of praise on newly elected French president Emmanuel Macron ahead of the IOC Evaluation Commission visit this weekend.

Estanguet describes Macron as a "young, dynamic and open-minded leader" in comments made to French language website Ouest France on Wednesday.

"In the international press, he has the image of a young leader, who goes beyond political divisions, who has an open discourse. What he embodies is completely in line with the values we want to wear."

Estanguet added "We are eager to work with Emmanuel Macron."

The feeling appears to be mutual, as Macron has made it clear he wants to meet with IOC Evaluation Commission members during their visit. Estanguet tells Ouest France an exact time and place for the meeting is not confirmed as yet, despite earlier reports it would take place on Sunday after Macron’s inauguration.

The meeting would mark Macron’s first active promotion of the Paris 2024 Olympic bid although he voiced his support for the Games during his winning campaign.

While Macron is expected to make an appearance during the IOC inspection, U.S. President Donald Trump is not attending the current IOC visit to Los Angeles, which wraps up on Friday.

The IOC delegation led by FIBA secretary general Patrick Baumann will arrive in Paris on Saturday from Los Angeles and begin a three-day inspection of the city’s Olympic plans on Sunday.

Paris and Los Angeles are the only two contenders remaining in the 2024 Summer Olympic bid race. The Evaluation Commission will provide a detailed report of their inspection of each city to the remaining IOC members at the 2024 Candidate City Briefing in Lausanne from July 11-12.

The IOC will choose the host of the 2024 Olympics at its Session in Lima, Peru on Sep. 13.

Written by Gerard Farek

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