Paris 2024 and LA28 reflect on significant progress as 2022 offers new opportunities

In his report, the IOC’s Paris 2024 Coordination Commission Chair, Pierre-Olivier Beckers, explained that the team in Paris had taken full opportunity of their observation in Tokyo to kick off the next stage of their preparations. This will consist of finalising their plans and contracting many of their delivery partners over the coming months.

Following a spectacular handover ceremony at the end of the Tokyo 2020 Games, Paris has capitalised on momentum through various engagement activities, including launching a tour of the country with the Olympic and Paralympic flags. The first stage of this tour culminated in celebrations marking 1,000 days to go. This included a unique public 5km pursuit race with legendary Olympian Eliud Kipchoge, giving runners the opportunity to secure their place in the “Marathon Pour Tous” mass running event in 2024.

The IOC EB heard that the coming year will be very important for Paris 2024 as it advances its Games delivery plans. Later this month, the Organising Committee is expected to announce key advancements relating to its ceremonies. Going into next year, it will be looking to build on the successful engagement activities that have continued to grow in 2021. This includes the Olympic and Paralympic Week (Semaine Olympique et Paralympique, SOP), due to take place from 24 to 29 January, in which Paris 2024 plans to get thousands of schoolchildren active again, through a series of physical activities.

Nicole Hoevertsz, the IOC’s LA28 Coordination Commission Chair, continued the positive feedback from Organising Committees. In her report, she highlighted the recently approved agreement between the City of Los Angeles and LA28.The agreement establishes an operational framework that supports co-creating Games centred around collaboration, community benefit, risk mitigation and financial protections.

LA28 was also praised for launching its legacy initiatives, seven years in advance of the 2028 Games. The PlayLA initiative began earlier this year, providing affordable and accessible sports programmes to thousands of young people. This project has been made possible through the agreement between LA28 and the IOC, as part of awarding the 2028 Games to Los Angeles, that up to USD 160 million would be invested in local youth sports in the lead-up to the Games.

LA28’s commercial success was another key factor in its progress in 2021. Having signed a multitude of high-level domestic sponsors and licensing agreements to date, the Organising Committee has established a solid financial base, which it will look to build on next year.

In addition to the Olympic Games, the IOC EB received a summary of a recent visit to Dakar, Senegal, by an IOC delegation. This allowed the Youth Olympic Games 2026 Organising Committee, the IOC and local stakeholders to progress preparations. In addition to reviewing venue construction and refurbishment, it also provided an opportunity to agree on several key activities to be organised in 2022. This is part of the pre-Games legacy plan, aimed at transforming Senegal through sport, and includes a sports festival that will take place during the original Games dates, prior to the postponement, in October 2022.