International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach insisted on Sunday that the Paris terror attacks, which left 129 people dead, “will absolutely” not affect the French capital’s bid to host the 2024 Olympics.
Bach listed three reasons why Paris can remain optimistic over their campaign in an interview with French television programme Stade 2.
“We are talking about an Olympic Games which is taking place in nine years time,” said Bach.
“Lots of things can happen in the world between now and then and I hope that the politicians meeting at the G20 (in Antalya in Turkey) will approve measures which will allow us to beat terrorism and barbarism.”
The second reason, said the IOC chief, is that “it’s not just Paris and France which are affected but the entire international community.
“Thirdly, it’s not just sport but all events of a certain stature.”
Paris faces competition from Budapest, Hamburg, Los Angeles and Rome to host the 2024 Olympics with a decision to be made on September 13, 2017.