Paris 2024 : a collective victory

It is official, Paris will host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. On Wednesday September 13th, the CIO announced its decision and the double allocation (Paris 2024 / Los Angeles 2028) was confirmed. Good news for the French Paralympic movement : for the first time in its history, France will welcome the Paralympic summer games.

On Wednesday, September 13th, in Lima (Peru), the CIO gave its verdict : Paris will welcome the world, in 2024, for the Olympic and Paralympic Games !

Two years of hard work have paid off.  CIO members were seduced by an ambitious file, honouring a sustainable and mastered vision. This decision marks a turning point for French paralympic sport, which was involved from the beginning of the bid. The Olympic and Paralympic games are two sides of the same coin and NPC France is proud to promote paralympic values in France.

The allocation of these Games in Paris is a real opportunity and an important challenge because it will be the first time ever that France will host the Paralympics summer Games.

The challenges will be linked to differents aspects: development, mediatisation, access to inclusive sports, but also and especially the question of disabilities in France (accessibility, perception, policy…).

Andrew Parsons, President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC)

I would like to congratulate Paris for the award  of the Paralympic Games Paris 2024. We are sure these will be exciting Games, to bring the games to a new level, it can be the best games ever, so félicitations Paris 2024, the games for sure will be « merveilleux ».  I am greatly excited at what Paris 2024 and LA 2028 can do in terms of growing the Paralympic Movement and I would like to send my heartfelt congratulations to both cities. Both Paris and LA presented tremendous integrated bids and what I like about each host city is that they offer different opportunities for the Paralympic Movement.

Paris 2024 has a very strong desire to surpass London 2012 and stage the best Paralympic Games in history. Looking at what they presented here in Lima I really believe they can do it, however the benchmark will likely be raised by Tokyo in three years’ time. The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games will undoubtedly lead to social transformation and most certainly will make France an even stronger and more competitive player in Paralympic sport, especially with the development of France’s first Paralympic youth training centre.

Emmanuelle Assmann, President of the NPC France

I am very happy about this decision. It is a great opportunity and a real challenge for the Paralympic movement. My first thought goes to both co-chairmen of the bid, Tony Estanguet and Bernard Lapasset, who lead this bid with passion and who assembled many different stakeholders. The French Paralympic Committee was more than ever behind the Paris 2024 bid. As a founding member, we can be proud to bring the Games to France… The allocation of the Olympic and Paralympic Games by the CIO is going to allow us to make a gigantic leap towards the sport of tomorrow, to improve visibility, to federate the French people around the Paralympic team and their values…

Frédéric Delpy, Vice-President of the NPC France / President of the Fédération Française Handisport

 It is an honour, I am so proud to be present in Lima for this historic moment with the Paris 2024 delegation even though I have only been at the head of the Disabled French Federation for a few months. It is a strong feeling, I am delighted to be part of this beautiful adventure. We have 7 years now to work closely with the COJO and all the federations to deliver “historic” Games !

Marc Truffaut, Vice-President of the NPC France / President of Fédération Française du Sport Adapté

This allocation is the fruit of the labour of an entire team … There is a double project for us: to lead the athletes to reach their best performance in front of their fans but also to inspire young people to join the paralympic adventure …

Marie-Amélie Le Fur, paralympic champion, Co-Président of Paris 2024 athletes committee

Personally I wanted to congratulate all the members who worked on the bid: the founding members naturally , the PARIS2024 staff and all who were consulted from the beginning. I am proud to have participated in the creation of an athlete-centered concept. It is a TEAM victory, a NATIONAL victory which now must continue to unite us all for 7 years before we celebrate this historic moment for France.

Nantenin Keita, paralympic champion, member Paris 2024 athletes committee

I was so proud to be the representative of all the athletes on the stage during the official presentation in front of the members of the CIO in Lima! An indescribable emotion, the outcome of something big … We know how we won these Games, all the commitment and the passion we put in the project for years… It is a real success! The CIO told us ” you worked hard and therefore you have the Games ! “

Michael Jérémiasz, paralympic champion, member Paris 2024 athletes committee

These games are a unique celebration of inclusive sport. At the end of the Olympics, the games will not be over and the competition will continue with the Paralympics !  Paris 2024 will mark a new beginning and incite thousands of young disabled people to be involved in sport !