More than 50 mayors from cities around the world have signed an agreement in support of Paris’ bid for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Spanning all continents, the 54 global cities, 35 of them capital cities, represent a diverse range of cultures, races and religions, which Paris 2024 says reinforces its city’s core commitment to welcome the world in 2024 with openness and tolerance.
Among the cities to sign the letter of support are six Olympic Host Cities – Athens, Barcelona, Mexico City, Montreal, Munich and Sydney.
“We see Paris as an instrument for collective and decisive progress,” the Mayors said in a joint letter published by Paris 2024 Thursday (a full list of participating mayors and cities follows below.)
The endorsement is considered a significant boost for Paris’ bid to host its third Games on the 100th anniversary of the previous Games held in the French Capital in 1924.
A letter written to underline the agreement included “at a time, many cities are contemplating whether to host major sporting events, Paris has the assets, the infrastructure and the ambition to bring a new spirit to the Games.”
“These games would belong to everyone; they would be constructive and bring joy to all. Like many who love Paris and sport, we support and wish the Paris 2024 bid every success.”
Paris 2024 co-chair Tony Estanguet said “this is an incredible and unique show of international support for Paris and our bid.”
“At any Olympic and Paralympic Games it is an honour to host the world in your city, and this statement shows that the world does feel welcome in Paris.
“We are showing people from communities across the globe that the bid and Paris are ready to share our city with them and that Paris 2024 will be a spectacular celebration of sport and Olympism for the whole world.”
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Click to download “Pledge to Support Paris 2024” letter.
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Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo explained “I am honoured and delighted to see so many Mayors, from all over the world, support Paris in our bid to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. It is a very strong sign of friendship, demonstrating that the bid of Paris 2024 is shared by many citizens, in all countries.
“By supporting us, these cities will also share with us their experience, their expertise, and their help to plan a wonderful Games in Paris, that improve the lives of citizens through sport, innovation and sustainable living.”
Meanwhile, Paris 2024 presented its project to 80 foreign ambassadors and diplomats in Paris Wednesday.
Jean-Marc Ayrault, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development said “France has a long tradition of welcoming and organizing international sporting events, as well as a renowned know-how”. He added that the Games in Paris would be “spectacular, festive, popular, passionate, engaging and meaningful. That’s the promise of Paris 2024 and France.”
Paris is competing with Budapest and Los Angeles to host the Games in 2024 The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will select the winner September 13, in Lima Peru.
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Below is a full list of cities and mayors to have signed the agreement:
- Abidjan – Robert Beugré MAMBÉ, Minister, Governor of the District of Abidjan
- Alexandria – General Reda FARAHAT, Governor of Alexandria
- Amman – Aqel BILTAJI, Mayor of Amman
- Antananarivo – Lalao RAKOTONIRAINY RAVALOMANANA, Mayor of Antananarivo
- Athens – Yiorgos KAMINIS, Mayor of Athens
- Bamako – Adama SANGARE, Mayor of the District of Bamako
- Bangui – Emile-Gros-Raymond NAKOMBO, President of the Special Delegation of Bangui
- Barcelona – Ada COLAU, Mayor of Barcelona
- Beirut – Jamal ITANI, Mayor of Beirut and Ziad CHBIB, Governor of Beirut
- Brazzaville – Hugues NGOUELONDELE, Mayor of Brazzaville
- Brussels – Yvan MAYEUR, Mayor of Brussels
- Bucharest – Gabriela FIREA, General Mayor of Bucharest
- Cape Town – Patricia de LILLE, General Mayor of Cape Town
- Casablanca – Abdelaziz EL OMARI, Mayor of Casablanca
- Cologne – Henriette REKER, Lord Mayor of Cologne
- Copenhagen – Frank JENSEN, Lord Mayor of Copenhagen
- Cotonou – Léhady SOGLO, Mayor of Cotonou
- Douala – Fritz NTONÈ NTONÈ, Government Delegate to the Urban Community of Douala
- Dublin – Brendan CARR, Lord Mayor of Dublin
- Kazan – Ilsur METHSIN, Mayor of Kazan
- Kyoto – Daisaku KADOKAWA, Mayor of Kyoto
- Libreville – Rose Christiane OSSOUKA RAPONDA, Mayor of Libreville
- Liege – Willy DEMEYER, Mayor of Liege
- Lima – Luis CASTAÑEDA LOSSIO, Mayor of the Metropolitan Area of Lima
- Lisbon – Fernando MEDINA, Mayor of Lisbon
- Luxembourg – Lydie POLFER, Mayor of Luxembourg City
- Madrid – Manuela CARMENA, Mayor of Madrid
- Marrakesh – Mohammed LARBI BELKAÏD, Mayor of Marrakesh
- Medellin – Federico GUTIÉRREZ, Mayor of Medellin
- Mexico – Miguel Ángel MANCERA ESPINOSA, Head of Government, Federal District of Mexico
- Montevideo – Daniel MARTÍNEZ, Mayor of Montevideo
- Montreal – Denis CODERRE, Mayor of Montreal
- Munich – Dieter REITER, Lord Mayor of Munich
- Namur – Maxime PRÉVOT, Mayor of Namur
- Niamey – Assane SEIDOU, Mayor of Niamey
- Nicosia – Constantinos YIORKADJIS, Mayor of Nicosia
- Nouakchott – Maty Mint HAMADY, President of the Urban Community of Nouakchott
- Ouagadougou – Armand Roland Pierre BEOUINDE, Mayor of Ouagadougou
- Pointe-Noire – Roland BOUITI-VIAUDO, Mayor of Pointe-Noire
- Porto – Rui MOREIRA, Mayor of Porto
- Pnom Penh – PA Socheatvong, Gouvernor of Pnom Penh
- Praia – Oscar Humberto EVORA DOS SANTOS, Mayor of Praia
- Prague – Adriana KRNÁČOVÁ, Mayor of Prague
- Quito – Mauricio RODAS, Metropolitan Mayor of Quito
- Rabat – Mohammed SADIKI, Mayor of Rabat
- Riga – Nils UŠAKOVS, Mayor of Riga
- Rotterdam – Ahmed ABOUTALEB, Mayor of Rotterdam
- Skopje – Trifun KOSTOVSKI, Mayor of Skopje
- Sydney – Clover MOORE, Lord Mayor of Sydney
- Tbilisi – Davit NARMANIA, Mayor of Tbilisi
- Tunis – Seifallah LASRAM, Mayor of Tunis
- Warsaw – Hanna GRONKIEWICZ-WALZ, Mayor of Warsaw
- Yaoundé – Gilbert TSIMI EVOUNA, Government Delegate to the Urban Community of Yaoundé
- Yerevan – Taron MARGARYAN, Mayor of Yerevan
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