The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board will meet in Lausanne, Switzerland, on March 19 and 20 to deliberate on the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in the 2024 Paris Olympics.In an interview with Le MondeIOC President Thomas Bach weighed in on the issue months after President Vladimir Putin attacked the IOC in October 2023, claiming that its treatment of athletes from his own country amounted to “ethnic discrimination.”
This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
With only four months left until the start of the 2024 Paris Olympics, are you confident in the efforts of the French Organizing Committee?
I'm confident.I think [there has been] I have high expectations for the organizing committee. We live in a world of aggression, hatred, and conflict. In every conversation, whether you're talking to a head of state, whether you're talking to someone on the street, when you're talking to a friend, there's something positive in people's hearts, a sign of hope, and this I think it's very game-focused.
In France, the high cost of tickets for the opening ceremony and certain events has been the subject of much criticism. Is the game reserved for a privileged audience?
Obviously not. Comparing ticket prices, [the 2024 Olympics in] If you compare ticket prices for Paris and London in 2012, the average prices are about the same. And when you factor in inflation, it's even lower than this average. 1 million tickets for just 24 euros, 50% of tickets under 50 euros, 90% under 200 euros… it's definitely not for the privileged. Also, if you want to have a balanced budget, you can't offer free access.
Do you think swimming in the Seine will remain a legacy of the Paris Games?
I think 200 years from now, the reopening of the Seine River will be a great legacy. I was first considering my plans for Paris, and I've already insisted on attending the men's triathlon event. [on July 30], which usually starts at 8am, which is not my time. Because this is the first swimming competition to be held on the Seine during the Games.
I was talking to the mayor of Ile Saint-Denis. [Mohamed Gnabaly is the mayor of this northern suburb of Paris] A few months ago, he spoke to me about what this means for his community and when he could then open. [the banks of the Seine up] For the masses. Over 200 small beaches and exercise options [areas] Along the river. That's quite a bit!
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