It’s a big win for Bayeux. The Calvados town has been chosen to serve as a base camp for the Olympic refugee team ahead of the Paris 2024 Games. The local authorities announced this at a press conference on Tuesday 10 October. A “real symbol for Bayeux“, suggested the town’s mayor, Patrick Gomont. According to Gonzalo Barrio, the IOC’s programme manager, Bayeux was chosen because of the town’s “historical link with refugees and the promotion of peace.” The refugees selected for the Paris 2024 Games will stay in Bayeux (population 14,000) from 15 to 18 July, before heading to the athletes’ village. Bayeux is just under 300km west of Paris, around four hours’ drive. The IOC’s refugee programme currently has 63 athletes, but there should be around thirty at next year’s Olympic Games. “A number similar” to that of the Tokyo 2020 Games refugee team (29 athletes), Gonzalo Barrio told the media.
