Paris 2024 President Estanguet insists Olympics and Paralympics are “on track” and that he sticks by all decisions taken

Paris 2024 President Tony Estanguet said the Games are “on track” when he spoke to the media this morning ©Getty Images

Paris 2024 President Tony Estanguet struck a defiant note here today as he maintained that, despite recent problems, the Olympic and Paralympic Games are “on track” and he stands by all of the decisions taken thus far.

Concerns raised at a recent seminar involving Chefs de Mission of all nations in Paris included the recent spate of rioting in the city’s streets and the ongoing investigation into contracts awarded for the Games, opened in 2017 by the National Financial Prosecutor’s Office.

Estanguet said at a media conference that the feedback from the Chefs de Mission had been extremely positive, but added: “We are riddled with critics, but if you take a step back we are meeting our deadlines and our mission has been increased from the bid mission.

“We are ready, we are on track.

“So I wouldn’t have changed any of the decision we have made up to this point.”

Paris 2024 President Tony Estanguet was robust in his defence of the Olympic Games Organising Committee at today’s media conference ©ITG

Estanguet said that after intensive co-operation with all agencies there are “very few concerns that transport system will encounter any major difficulties.”

Addressing a question about the ongoing corruption investigation, Estanguet replied: “We are collaborating, co-operating.

“The national prosecutors need to have access to various pieces of information and we are handing those over.

“I don’t have any other comments to make on this because we don’t have anything else to tell you.”

Estanguet added that after intensive co-operation with all agencies there are “very few concerns that transport system will encounter any major difficulties.”

On the topic of the Olympic Games budget, Estanguet underlined that the target is for 86 per cent of the €4.4 million (£3.7 million/$4.9 million) total to be financed by the private sector – and “we are already at 80 per cent, and are under discussion with a new premier partner.

“But even if that does not happen we will still find a way to make our target.”

Asked about his views on the eventual participation or otherwise of Russian and Belarusian athletes, Estanguet pointed again to the fact that the decision was not something the Organising Committee would make.

“As far as the athletes for Paris 2024 are concerned, they need to take part in the qualifying events,” he said.

The target of funding 86 per cent of the budget for Paris 2024 via the private sector has reached 80 per cent already, it was reported here today ©ITG

“But this is authorised by the National Federations – they are the ones who authorise Russian or Belarusian athletes.

“We allow National Federations to organise these for Paris 2024.

“The second step for athletes who would be potentially ready for the Games – will they be approved by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) or the International Paralympic Committee (IPC)?

“It is their choice – they will validate or approve in both cases.

“As an Organising Committee we will welcome the athletes that have been qualified and confirmed by the IOC and the IPC.

“I understood from the IOC that that decision will be made in September 2023 at the earliest.

“We will know more about this by the end of the summer.

“From the IPC side the implementation has not yet been set in stone.

“There is a Session in October – will a decision be made then?

“But we are not responsible for this decision process.”

Turning to the broader issues, he added: “I know that there are obviously some people who are watching what we are doing who think we should be doing things differently.

“But if I were to retrace my steps I would do exactly the same thing.

Paris 2024 President Tony Estanguet has reiterated that the Organising Committee does not make the decision over whether athletes from Russia or Belarus should compete in the Games ©Getty Images

“We have tried consistently to make sure that the needs of sport are at the heart of all of our measures.

“I am focused on the objectives.

“I know we are going to be taking stock after the Closing Ceremony of the Paralympic Games.

“But I think  we have all the tools in our toolbox to make sure these challenges we face {are} not long lasting.

“We had COVID.

“We had an international situation that was not simple and different events in France.

“And we know things will continue in the world and in France.

“But all of these different events didn’t have a negative impact on Paris 2024, thanks to our team and all our private and public partners.

“We need these Games.

“We have never needed these Games more.”

The Paris 2024 Olympics are due to run from July 26 to August 11, with the Paralympics scheduled from August 28 to September 8.

By Mike Rowbottom at the Paris 2024 headquarters in Saint Denis