Investigation at the request of the Finance Prosecutor’s Office
Reuters reported that on June 20, police searched the headquarters of the Paris 2024 organizing committee. The search, tied to alleged anti corruption and misappropriation of public funds, was authorized by France’s National Financial Prosecutor’s Office and targets activity going back to 2017.
“The organizers of the Paris 2024 Games are fully cooperating with investigators to support the inquiry,” a source familiar with the matter stated.
The main office of SOLIDEO, the government entity overseeing Olympic and Paralympic infrastructure, was also targeted in a preliminary probe that began in 2022 following an audit by the national anti-corruption authority.
Representatives of the Paris 2024 headquarters offered no further details after the prosecutor’s statement.
The police operation coincided with the start of a two day meeting of the International Olympic Committee Executive Council, which covered progress on Games preparations among other topics.
“We know today that police searched the organizing committee’s headquarters. The committee has informed us that they are fully cooperating with the authorities in the investigation into the corruption case.”
Costs have risen by more than 2 billion euros in six years
The Paris 2024 Games are scheduled from July 26 to August 11, with the Paralympics running from August 28 to September 6. Tony Estang, chair of the organizing committee, pledged that the events would run smoothly.
Over six years, the total budget for Games preparations expanded from an initial 6.6 billion euros in 2017 to 8.8 billion euros.
According to the organizer, infrastructure construction alone is projected to reach 4 billion euros, up from an earlier estimate of 3.2 billion. Most events will use existing arenas. The largest construction sites include the Olympic Village and the Saint-Denis swimming facility just north of Paris.
Security costs, estimated by the French Supreme Audit Institution at a minimum of 400 million euros, were not included in the overall budget.
Uncertainty remains on Russian athlete participation
With the Games approaching, there has been no definitive decision on Russian athletes. In early 2022, the IOC advised federations not to include Russian or Belarusian competitors.
During an IOC Executive Committee meeting on March 28, 2023, a neutral participation option was discussed if athletes are not actively supporting hostilities, while athletes linked to law enforcement or armed forces would be barred.
Neutral status allowed Russian competitors to win medals at recent global events, including Arman Adamyan and Inal Tasoev taking gold in Doha for judo, and several medals at the World Taekwondo Championships in Baku.
Details on Russian participation and status for Paris 2024 were expected to emerge around June 22, when the IOC held its 140th session remotely.