PARIS: French President-elect Emmanuel Macron has spoken directly to IOC head Thomas Bach to express his absolute support for the capital’s2024 Olympic and Paralympic bid.

Macron, who was elected last Sunday and takes over formally in the next days, will also meet the International Olympic Committee evaluation commission during its imminent assessment visit.

A Paris 2024 statement said Macron “shared with president Bach his attachment to the Paris 2024 project and emphasised France’s longstanding commitment to the Olympic movement.”

Bid co-chair Tony Estanguet, said: “Emmanuel Macron has been a supporter of the Paris 2024 bid since the beginning. He has always shown a strong interest in our plans and the opportunities provided by a successful bid.

“We are delighted that even before his inauguration as new President of France he has already found time to speak to the IOC President to reaffirm his full and complete support for Paris 2024.

“He has also confirmed that he will be meeting the IOC evaluation commission while they are in Paris and that he will be active in backing the bid all the way to Lima.”

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