The election of the new President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, which took place on Sunday, May 7th, is good news for France’s bid to host the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Macron, an independent centrist, is expected to continue current President François Hollande’s fervent support of the Paris 2024 efforts.
Macron, who served as Minister of Economy, Industry and Digital Affairs from 2014 until August 2016, when he resigned to launch his presidential campaign, is business- and Europe-friendly. His election calms the fears that had been raised at the prospect of how a far-right “France first” presidency of opponent Marine Le Pen might have played out with the IOC.
In a press release, the Paris 2024 committee offered its congratulations to the new President with the following statement from Paris 2024 Bid Committee co-chairs Tony Estanguet and Bernard Lapasset:
“On behalf of the entire Paris 2024 Bid Committee we would like to congratulate Emmanuel Macron on becoming the newly elected President of France. We know that our new President will be a great supporter of the Paris 2024 bid and play a key role in helping us secure the nation’s ambition to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. He understands the power of sport and how the Games can be a force for real change and help build inspiration and inclusion. The Paris 2024 team are looking forward to working with President Macron all the way to the IOC session in Lima, and beyond, to show the Olympic Family and the world why Paris would deliver the most incredible Games in 2024 full of passion and purpose.”
Paris and Los Angeles will both host an International Olympic Committee inspection panel in the coming week. Los Angeles receives the committee from Wednesday to Friday, while Paris takes its turn from Sunday to Tuesday of the following week. This could be the occasion for the IOC to meet with the newly-elected Macron.
#Paris2024 congratulates @EmmanuelMacron on being elected President of France @Elysee https://t.co/rn625A778R
— Paris 2024 (@Paris2024) May 7, 2017
France has a new president. Young, optimistic & open to the world. Can't wait to share @Paris2024 together to bring the Games at home #hope
— Tony Estanguet – OLY (@TonyEstanguet) May 7, 2017
France will be over run by immigrants by then.
Looks like other countries are surprised that Le Pen was well beaten. Here we reject xenophobic candidates. Simple.
I’m not a fan of Macron at all. I voted for him in the run-off, like many other people, only by default, just against the xenophobe candidate who wants to leave the EU. Not the greatest election. But at least it’s democratic. Unlike USA the winner here is the person with the most votes…. Simple and democratic. And here we have a high turnout. Between 75 and 85% generally.
And about 2024, sure it’s more easy to sell a product with Macron, a Trudeau-like leader, rather than with a guy hated almost everywhere in the world. Anyway Paris was the big favorite before that election.
First round turnout: 77.77%
Run-off turnout: 74.56%
Anyway I doubt the name of the president or prime minister is very important for that kind of decisions. There are many other considerations. But obviously the name Trump doesn’t help.
And maybe I’m wrong but it looks like there’s a deal to pick Paris for 2024 and LA for 2028 so that everybody is happy.
Bobo: Here are several more statistics:
24%: youth unemployment rate in France
44%: of the 18-24 age group voted for a far-right candidate (running against a young “hip” candidate)
Things must be bleak there for the young. I hope Macron improves things there. But if I were a young, working-class Frenchman with some hopes and dreams and some English-speaking skills, I’d look for greener pastures.
Also, sorry your guy Jean-Luc Mélenchon didn’t make it into the runoff!
Paris will NOT happen… Anne Hidalgo is doing her best but the National Assembly is leaning towards NO.
It is difficult to compare Macron’s sports pedigree with the leader of the country of the other city competing for the 2024 Olympic bid: a near-scratch handicap (for many years) golfer, owner of golf courses around the world, scorer of a hole-in-one on national TV in 1994 (AT&T Pro-Am), former owner of a USFL football franchise (New Jersey Generals).
But who was the better drama pupil?
Interesting side note: the leaders of Europe’s four biggest economies (Germany, UK, France, Italy) have ZERO biological children among them. Trump has five. I guess when Trump visits Europe later in the month, there won’t be a lot of small talk with the other leaders about how the little ones are doing.
European leaders don’t need their children as advisors….
Germany just gave assylum to Turkish officers who fled re the coup attempt – NATO vs NATO .. Trump is going to Turkey Israel & Saudi Arabia first . After that lot I wonder what state he will be in . Erdogan Netanyahu & the Saudi freaks .Then the European nursery set .
I wish him well .
He is hardly Napoleon . Basically we have run out of leaders .
Mark 8:36