JO2024

It's funny though how they've been changing a LOT of their originally planed venues in order to save costs...

Yes this is all very confusing. All the major stadiums of similar size that were built lately in the world didn't cost more than €500 million. I really don't get how it could cost so much... $2 billion for such an ugly stadium....arf

Oh god, please, don't take this personnaly. I was being saracstic (like I'm kind of always being). I'm not stating the holy truth. It's just my point of view here, and I'm not attacking anyone if not the IOC. Yes they are mostly made up of European members, and yet they voted for US Olympics in the 80's, 90's, and 2000's. YES, they didn't vote for NY 2012 and Chicago 2016. But I think it's only fair after 3 Olympics within 18 years. And I'm not saying all this because of Paris 2024. Yes, I'm definitely supporting this bid and hoping that it could win, but knowing the IOC, I'm still pretty positive that Paris won't get those Games this time either. Because it would have been 22 years since the US didn't get Olympics (OH MY!!!!!! (being sarcastic here, again). And that going for a new kind of smallish city would be nice to show that the Olympics don't have to go to a big international city (yes, we could go back to the time when smallish cities like Barcelone, Helsinki, Atlanta, Antwerp, Saint Louis, were allowed to host). Giving the 2024 Games to Paris to a big city like Paris after Beijing, London, Rio and Tokyo wouldn't send a good signal. It would contradict what the Agenda 2020 was all about, somehow (allowing not so big cities to host). Anyway, as you said, back on topic! Good luck Toronto, I hope that you will bid!

Are they Eurocentric, really? Which country got to host the most Olympic Games (winter and Summer) since 1896? Which country hosted in 1984, 1996 and 2002 (that is 3 times in 18 years). No wonder the US didn't get to host since 2002. Oh my, it's been 13 years since they last hosted!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You have to understand that the US is ONE country. The Europe is not. When London or Athens is hosting, it's 2 very different countries hosting. To me it's not France, so it might as well be in Asia or in Australia, it's pretty much the same! It's abroad. All this to say that, the US don't have to host every 12, 16 or 20 years like Europe has. It's not fair to compare the US with Europe, though they're similar in terms of size. Asia has been (and will be) hosting quite fairly, and continents like Oceania and Africa haven't been quite able to host. So yes, to me, Rio, as AMERICAN Games (Pan Am Games, anyone?), is a nice change for once!

It's actually interesting how some would consider Afro-Eurasia as ONE continent (Africa, Europe and Asia) since they are not disconnected, but they would still consider South and North America as two separate continents. They only thing thing that separate those continents is the Canal of Panama, which is not a natural separation (just like the Canal of Suez, which separates Africa from...Asia/Europe). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continent

Well, it has been a debate before. I can see why for must of Americans South America and North America are two different continents. But in Europe, they are not, and that's why they are North and South AMERICA. It's like East and Western Europe. It's still Europe. It's like North Africa (the non-black Africa, Maghreb) and the rest of Africa. And I agree, it's difficult to determine where is the frontier between Europe and Asia. In the end, the number of continents in the world depends on where you're from, and in France, we tend to consider there are 5 continents (just like there are 5 Olympic rings on the official flag): America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania.

That's a really nice idea there Yoshi. It would be great if the IOC could tell which continent they want the Olympics to go to. It would then save a lot of money and time to cities who shoudn't be bidding (Madrid 2016 for instance). And there would be a lot more candidates I think. For instance, if it was officially Europe's time for the 2024 Games, there would be a lot more European cities bidding. If 2024 was America's time, it could be nice to have several American cities competing against each other, plus Canada, Mexico, etc. Though to me, South America and North America (and Central America) are still ONE continent, one ring on the Olympic flag, so you'd have to count on all the cities from South America willing to bid as well, and after Rio 2016, 2024 would be Oops. Would be a bit too soon for America.

BUT, it got the most votes on Round 2. Paris never got the most votes on any rounds...

It was 16 years after Atlanta 1996 and 10 years after Salt Lake City 2002! It wasn't Asia's time either after Beijing 2008. Couldn't be Oceania. Africa, well... It was Europe's time, no doubt (the three finalists were Spain, France and Great-Britain)!

I understand how important it is to get a national stadium, but I really don't get the price of it. It's insanely high! And no, the French don't seem to realise that we already have a lot of venues, and that the Stade de France wouldn't need much refurbishing for an Olympic use (it wouldn't cost € 2 billions anyway). Additionally, Paris will have a second 80,000 seats Stadium by 2020.

I can't believe Tokyo destroyed a Stadium that would have been totally capable of hosting both Ceremonies and Athletic competitions with a bit of refurbishment. No, instead they decided to build a new one, that in the end would be quite similar to the old one, just a bit uglier and at a cost of € 1.8 billion. Thanks Tokyo, for showing a good example of what could cheap Olympics be: "Oh it's gonna be so cheap, because we're reusing most of the venues from Tokyo 1964! Oh wait. Oh, actually, no. It's no fun if we don't get spend billions and billions for the Olympics! Let's spend **** loads of money just to show the world how powerful and rich we are!" Like, seriously, how could a whole new stadium even cost that much??? Stade de France costed € 364 million, the Bird's nest in Beijing was $ 423 million, Athens Olympic Stadium renovation costed € 265 million... I'm already reading comment from angry French people referencing this as a good reason for Paris NOT to bid for 2024.

Indeed, much better to have him for Paris 2024 than for Hamburg, Boston, Rome or Budapest. Well done Paris on getting him! Smart move. He did after all helped London get 2012, Rio get 2016 and Tokyo get 2020, why would it stop there? Let's make it this time, come on!! I don't want to think of Paris as a frontrunner. We all know what happened last time it was a frontrunner. I think in the end we never know what's going to happen....

Yep, Paris 2024 has recruted Mike Lee!!! http://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1028143/paris-turn-to-key-london-2012-figure-to-help-launch-olympic-bid-for-2024

Agreed. 70,000 seating capacity Stadium, built in 1998 (not that old), 30 km from Tokyo... A bit of upgrade and this Stadium would have made a perfect Olympic Stadium for the 2020 Games.

Ahahah! They might as well. So, how menue venues have changed since their winning bid? And what's with the new Olympic Stadium. It's very confusing that they've destroyed the old one, to build a bigger one that would see its seting capacity reduced a lot after the games, even less than the old one. Couldn't they have just added some seats to the old Stadium? Talk about saving money....

I like how Tokyo 2020 had a really compact bid, and that's what made them somehow win those Games. But now, thoses Games really won't be has compact as expected, like, really not. Agenda 2020 happened since they were elected so...fair enough. And that's going to make Paris 2024 look really compact! No, just to say that I'm glad we're back to having not so ultra-compact Games anymore.It's fine, in a megalopole like Tokyo, Rio or London to have venues spread all over the city (and quite big ones). It's hard to fine an area big enough to host the "Olympic Park". When you have all the existing venues, what's the point anyway?

Where will be held the Water Polo competitions? I just the read that the original plan for the pool close to the Maracanã was cancelled due to a dispute between the city of Rio and the company that was supposed to upgrade the pool. 15 months to go....ouch.

I've been checking a lot the Consultants Register page for the 2024 Olympic Games, on the official IOC page, and there were a lot lately, but today, there's only 3 left for Boston, 1 for Hamburg and Rome, and 4 for Paris. I wonder what happened. Can the consultants withdraw if they want to?

I don't where to put this but on the Olympic.org Registration page, there are already 5 consultants for Boston 2024, 2 for Hamburg 2024 and 2 for Paris 2024.

Yes, beware you IOC member, if we don't get these Games your heads will be all oved the Eiffel Tower!

Roland Garros is usable as it is for Olympic Games. If Paris get the Games, it will be improved no matter what, though it's been a struggle lately. The IOC won't care much I think, they were happy with it back in 2005, so...

Agreed. With all those future metro lines, Saint-Denis Pleyel would be 3 minutes from the Stade de France and less than 10 minutes from the Bourget Airport.

Thanks for the tip plusbrilliantsexploits It is part of a poject, the Quartier Universitaire International: http://www.grandparis-mipim.com/plaine-de-france-quigp/

How do can I post a photo from my laptop? I'm having issues, since it seems I can only post photos from the internet...

There are 4 options regarding the possible Athletes Village for Paris 2024 : -Saint Denis Pleyel – very close to the Stade de France and possible Aquatic Centre, will be converted into student dorms after the Games. -La Courneuve (Central Park project) – Will happen whether Paris get the Games or not. It’s very close to the Stade de France and will be quite an amazing setting. Converted into housing after the Games. -Le Bourget – Don’t know much about this one, but it will be close to the Bourget Airport, possible Athletes and officials airport. A bit far from the rest of the venues though. I’m not sure but The Central Park and le Bourget project might be the same… -The former PSA-Peugeot area: It’s quite big, and it would be right in front of the Bourget Airport, a few metres from the Villepinte Exhibit Centre (possible venues for small indoor sports) and 5 minutes from the future Tremblay-en-France Coliseum. Also a bit far from the rest of the venues. But with all the future metro lines, it will be well connected to the Stade de France and the rest of Paris. Also good connection to the Charles de Gaulle Airport.