Paris bid for 2024 Olympics in place

AFP, PARIS: A key argument in the Paris bid for the 2024 Olympics was that, thanks to venues such as the Stade de France and Roland Garros, 95 percent of the necessary infrastructure is already in place.

From the Ile-Saint-Denis to the north, where the Olympic village is planned, to the Bercy arena, many proposed sites are situated on the banks of the Seine.

And the river running through the French capital will be cleaned up for the Games so that it can host swimming and open water events.

The historic monuments that attract millions of tourists every year will form the backdrop for other events, from the Champs-de-Mars in front of the Eiffel Tower to the Invalides and the Champs Elysées, where the cycling road race is set to finish.

"The historic concept of the Olympic park can be applied to the whole city thanks to the proximity of the sites to each other," said Paris bid co-chairman and three-time Olympic slalom canoe champion Tony Estanguet during a visit by the IOC's assessment team in May.

But Paris will still have to spend around $3 billion on building and renovating sites, with half of the amount going on the Olympic village alone.

Paris bid for 2024 Olympics in place

AFP, PARIS: A key argument in the Paris bid for the 2024 Olympics was that, thanks to venues such as the Stade de France and Roland Garros, 95 percent of the necessary infrastructure is already in place. From the Ile-Saint-Denis to the north, where the Olympic village is planned, to the Bercy arena, many proposed sites are situated on the banks of the Seine. And the river running through the French capital will be cleaned up for the Games so that it can host swimming and open water events. The historic monuments that attract millions of tourists every year will form the backdrop for other events, from the Champs-de-Mars in front of the Eiffel Tower to the Invalides and the Champs Elyses, where the cycling road race is set to finish. The historic concept of the Olympic park can be applied to the whole city thanks to the proximity of the sites to each other, said Paris bid co-chairman and three-time Olympic slalom canoe champion Tony Estanguet during a visit by the IOCs assessment team in May. But Paris will still have to spend around $3 billion on building and renovating sites, with half of the amount going on the Olympic village alone.