Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo Gives Backing To 2024 Summer Olympic Games Bid

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo on Monday "gave her blessing to a bid for the 2024 Olympics and asked local city officials to get to work on shaping a detailed plan for the Games," according to Mark John of REUTERS. Hidalgo, who initially asked for more time to study the possibility after President Francois Hollande publicly backed the idea last November, said that "she had been convinced by a report produced by French sports officials on the advantages." She said, "These very useful exchanges confirmed it makes sense for Paris to bid for this unique sporting event." A feasibility study on holding the Games in Paris put the potential cost at €6.2B ($6.77B). Backers said that "construction costs would be limited because the Paris region already has top-quality sporting facilities, such as the Roland Garros tennis center and the Stade de France." Hidalgo "will put the decision to a vote by the Paris city council in April before announcing her final decision" (REUTERS, 3/23).