Senior Paris delegation to attend Rio Paralympic

By Robert Fawdon, Sept 7, 2016: The Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games Bid Committee has confirmed its delegation to attend the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games where the bid will listen and learn and gain valuable insight from the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the Rio 2016 Organizing Committee and the Paralympic Family during a live Games environment. The bid will also share its unique vision to deliver a thrilling and memorable Paralympic Games in 2024 that helps to showcase high-level sporting excellence, increase awareness and participation in para sport and improve accessibility for citizens with impairments across Paris and France.

The senior Paris 2024 delegation will be led by and include:

 Bid Co-Chairman, I‎OC Member and three-time Olympic Gold Medallist, Tony Estanguet
 Bid Co-Chairman, Bernard Lapasset
 IOC Member and Olympic Gold Medallist, Guy Drut
 President of the French Paralympic Committee and Paralympic Bronze Medallist, Emmanuelle Assmann
 The Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo
 Bid Chief Executive and Badminton Olympian, Etienne Thobois
 Head of Sports and Paralympic Integration at Paris 2024, Lambis Konstantinidis
 Paralympic Gold Medallist and Paris 2024 Athletes Committee Co-Chair, Marie-Amélie Le Fur
 French National Olympic Committee President, Denis Masseglia
 Secretary of State for Sport, Thierry Braillard

Paralympic Gold Medallist, Member of the Paris 2024 Athletes Committee and Team France Rio 2016 Paralymic Games Flag Bearer,Michaël Jeremiasz, will also be supporting the bid in Rio.
Bernard Lapasset, Co-Chairman of Paris 2024, said:

“We are excited to be attending the Paralympic Games in Rio where our bid delegation intends to listen and learn from the Paralympic Family and celebrate the amazing sporting action. We look forward to gaining valuable insights about the Paralympic hosting experience and the technical organisation of the Games and we are delighted to be taking a senior delegation including Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo – emphasising our commitment, unity and the strong political support for our bid.”

President of the French Paralympic Committee and Paralympic Bronze Medallist, Emmanuelle Assmann, said:

“I would like to wish Team France the very best of luck as they embark on this life-changing journey at the Paralympic Games. It is an honour to be travelling to Rio and we aim to make the most of this opportunity to express how Paris 2024 intends to deliver a stunning and inspirational Paralympic Games in 2024 that celebrates world-class sporting talent and also leaves a genuine legacy across Paris and France by improving accessibility and raising awareness and participation in para sport.”

Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, said:

“We see the Olympic and Paralympic Games as a single, united project – one that can lead to increased participation levels in sport and physical activity across all of society in Paris and France. The Paralympic Games can be a catalyst for change that can open minds and create wonderful new opportunities enabling young people to express their ability and talents, not only in sport, but across many different areas of life. After a successful Olympic Games I’m delighted to be back in Rio to cheer on the athletes and I look forward to meeting with members from the Paralympic family during my visit.”