Paris turns into Olympic Park as part of push to host 2024 Games
A diver plunged into the Seine while the mayor of Paris took to the river in a kayak, as the French capital transformed itself on Friday into a giant Olympic Park as part of its final push to win the rights to host the 2024 Games.
Paris and U.S. rival Los Angeles are the only two cities bidding to stage the 2024 Olympics, and the French capital is running a series of events over the weekend to promote its credentials.
1er 100m sur la piste flottante avec nos championnes et nos champions ???? #VenezPartager #OlympicDay pic.twitter.com/02DXHE1IFP
— Paris (@Paris) June 23, 2017
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Canoes and kayaks filled the Seine just outside Notre Dame cathedral, while the diver jumped into the river from one of the city’s bridges.
On June 23rd & 24th this is where people of #Paris & visitors will experience an amazing Olympic Park experience #FollowLASeine #OlympicDay pic.twitter.com/2swVmayZ2Q
— Raphaël Leclerc (@RaphLeclerc) June 13, 2017
“This is a great opportunity for us to give a taster of what the Games will be like here in 2024,” said former Olympic gold medal canoeist Tony Estanguet, who is leading Paris’ bid to host the event.
Paris' most famous monuments and sites turn into a fun olympic park to celebrate the #OlympicDay #MadeForSharing ? https://t.co/ZY5mPh4gps pic.twitter.com/uDVpWkrePW
— Paris (@Paris) June 22, 2017
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo also turned up alongside Estanguet, with the two of them taking to the Seine in a kayak, not far from where sprinters pelted along a floating athletics track.
Paris last hosted the Olympics in 1924, while Los Angeles has held it twice – most recently in 1984.
@RC_Paris est au #ParisParcOlympique à l'invitation de @jfmartins @Paris #Paris2024 ? pic.twitter.com/9AvuMbT3kE
— Rollers&Coquillages (@RC_Paris) June 23, 2017
In July 2005 in Singapore, London pipped an over-confident Paris, which had lost out to Beijing for the 2008 Games, to win the right to stage the 2012 Summer Olympics, triggering tears in the French camp when the results were announced.
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