Tuesday, December 17, 2013

IOC: French must stop showing "arrogance" if Paris bid for 2024 Olympics is not to fail again, warns Killy

PAPA DON'T PREACH ...

Source: http://www.insidethegames.biz/olympics/summer-olympics/2024/1016572-french-must-stop-showing-arrogance-if-paris-bid-for-2024-olympics-is-not-to-fail-again-warns-killy

By Duncan Mackay

Jean-Claude Killy has warned that Paris must show more "humility" if it bids for the 2024 Olympics and ParalympicsOctober 20 - If Paris bids for the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics then they need to show "humility, of listening and of perseverance", instead of being arrogant, they have been warned by Jean-Claude Killy. 

Killy is France's most senior member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and claimed that the country needs a fresh approach if it is to finally succeed after five consecutive unsuccessful bids.

Three of these have come from Paris.

They were for 1992 which were awarded to Barcelona, 2008 to Beijing and 2012 to London when the French capital was the overwhelming favourite only to be beaten in one of the biggest upsets in Olympic bidding history.

This was then followed by a bid for the 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics from Annecy, when they polled only seven votes as the Games were awarded to South Korea's Pyeongchang, the second lowest total in recent history.

Lille had also bid for the 2004 Olympics but were not even chosen as a candidate city for a Games awarded to Athens. 

The last successful French Olympic bid came from Albertville, who were awarded the 1992 Winter Games.

A bid from Paris for 2024 is widely expected, especially as it would mark the centenary of the 1924 Games which were held there and immortalised in the Oscar-winning film Chariots of Fire

Paris lost its bid to host the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics to London, despite being the favourite for most of the campaignParis lost its bid to host the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics to rivals London, despite being the favourite for most of the campaign

But Killy, a former skier who won three gold medals at Grenoble in 1968, has cautioned that Paris needs to adopt a new attitude if it is to come out in front of what is expected to be the most competitive bid campaign since 2012 which also featured Madrid, Moscow and New York.

"We must stop putting ourselves forward as something we're not," Killy told French newspaperJournal du Dimanche in an interview published today. .

"We can't turn up once every ten years and tell the whole world what the Olympic Movement is about, that shows arrogance, and then go and repeat that ten years later."

Killy, who gave his lukewarm support to Annecy's bid for the 2018 Winter Olympics, gave Paris a word of advice should they emerge as 2024 host city candidates.

"They should create a Team France obviously backed by the Mayor [of Paris]," said Killy, who is currently head of the IOC Coordination Commission for Sochi 2014. 

"It also helps to pay attention to the competition. 

"The Americans will be hard to beat.

"France should adopt a position of humility, of listening and of perseverance."

Paris last hosted the Olympics in 1924 but Jean-Claude Killy warned that they will not be awarded the 2024 Games out of sentimentParis last hosted the Olympics in 1924 but Jean-Claude Killy warned that they will not be awarded the 2024 Games out of sentiment

If Paris pinned its hopes of being awarded the Games because it is the centenary of 1924, then it is doomed to fail, Killy warned.

"Never [should they adopt this strategy], looking at its scope and responsibilities a romantic IOC no longer exists," he said.

But, even if Paris does bid, then Killy does not wish to be part of its campaign.

"Out of the question, or only a helping hand," he said.

Contact the writer of this story at duncan.mackay@insidethegames.biz

Tuesday, December 03, 2013

IOC President Bach meets Hollande to discuss potential Paris 2024 Olympic bid

Saturday, 30 November 2013



Thomas Bach met with François Hollande during a visit to Paris ©IOCNovember 30 - International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach today met French President François Hollande to discuss a potential bid from Paris for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympics.

The pair, along with French IOC members Guy Drut and Tony Estanguet and IOC director general Christophe De Kepper, met in the French capital to also talk about the expectations for French athletes at the upcoming Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics, France's commitment to the fight against doping and illegal betting in sport and general sports development in the country.

On the eve of the meeting, Bach - who is in the city to attend the International Fencing Federation (FIE) Centennial Gala Dinner - spoke favourably about a bid from Paris to host either the 2024 or 2028 Games, and suggested that France should not be cautious about bidding again after five consecutive unsuccessful attempts.

France last hosted the Summer Olympics in 1924, meaning that 2024 will mark the centenary of those Games ©Getty ImagesFrance last hosted the Summer Olympics in 1924, meaning that 2024 will mark the centenary of those Games ©Getty Images
"The enthusiasm of the French people for sport is obvious...it would be a very, very strong candidate," he told France 3 television.

"It's a sports competition, you can't wait until you're the only bidder.

"That's never going to happen.

"A bid can contribute to development, not only sports development but also social development in a country and in a city.

"You have to go for it, to be united, to fight for it."

Although the last successful French Olympic bid came from Albertville, which was awarded the 1992 Winter Games, the country last hosted the Summer Olympics in 1924, meaning that 2024 will mark the centenary of those Games.

While in France, Bach yesterday met with Abdou Diouf, secretary general of the International Organisation of La Francophonie, to discuss a potential cooperation for next year's International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, being jointly organised by the IOC and the United Nations.

Contact the writer of this story at emily.goddard@insidethegames.biz


Related storiesOctober 2013: David Owen - Why the Olympic Movement needs a Paris 2024 bid
October 2013: French must stop showing "arrogance" if Paris bid for 2024 Olympics is not to fail again, warns Killy
November 2012: Exclusive - Many factors will decide if Paris bid for 2024 Olympics says French Olympic Committee President
February 2011: France will keep bidding for the Olympics even if Annecy loses promises Sports Minister