Paris 2024 Olympic bid directors rejected on Wednesday the notion of hosting the 2028 Games, saying their aim was the 2024 edition, and the rival bidder Los Angeles said the same.
The International Olympic Committee had been planning to resolve the 2024 competition by offering the losing candidate the chance to host the 2028 edition. The result of the 2024 and 2028 editions will come out at the same time this September.
"We are working on 2024 and there's no reason for us to talk about 2028—we have nothing to offer for that, no project and no willing," Etienne Thobois, Paris 2024 bid director told AFP. "We would have technical difficulties with the Olympic Village to start with," Thobois said, explaining deals were in place for 2024 for a site next to the national stadium that would be hard to extend by four years.
Paris bid spokesman and multi-Olympic gold medal winner Tony Estanguet also rejected the notion of hosting the Games in 2028 at a meeting in London on Tuesday. "There will be no Olympics in Paris in 2028," the former champion canoeist said. "It has always been the deal with our partners that this bid was about 2024. It would be impossible for our project to be put off to 2028."
"Los Angeles is the right city at this important time for the Olympic Movement and is only bidding for 2024," a statement from Los Angeles 2024 said on Tuesday. "With all permanent venues already built and 88% public support, only Los Angeles 2024 offers the lowest-risk and truly sustainable solution for the future of the Olympic Movement in 2024 and beyond."
