Curious timing. Tuesday July 26, the COJO Paris 2024 will celebrate the symbolic date of D – 2 years before the start of the Olympic Games (July 26 to August 11). It will mark the occasion by revealing the slogan of the Games, but also the competition calendar and the ticket office for the Olympic event.
But, coincidence or not, this series of announcements of very international scope will be preceded this Monday, July 25 by a “ site meeting » organized at the Elysée, at the request of Emmanuel Macron. It will bring together, around the President of the Republic, around ten ministers concerned with the preparation of the Paris 2024 Games.
This Monday's meeting, announced as a “ waypoint“, is not supposed to mark a takeover of the government. It could even turn out to be quite smooth, without major decisions or radical changes. The list of guests would even have been reduced to only the ministers and state services concerned. Bruno le Maire (Economy), Gérald Darmanin (Interior), Sébastien Lecornu (Defense), Pap Ndiaye (National Education), Amélie Oudéa-Castéra (Sports and Olympic and Paralympic Games) are expected. On the COJO side, Tony Estanguet will also be there.
A " waypoint“, so, nothing more. But it comes at a time when two successive reports point out the budgetary risks and the difficulties ahead for the organizing committee. To the point of risking confusing the message prepared by the COJO for the date of D – 2 years, with the announcement of the slogan and the revelation of the event calendar and ticketing.
Chronologically, the first of the two reports was written by the Paris 2024 audit committee, a group of independent experts led by Jacques Lambert. Presented during the last COJO board of directors, on July 12, the 52-page document was revealed in broad terms during a press briefing shortly before the board meeting. The COJO had insisted on the most positive aspects of the analysis, highlighting “ a structured and efficient system for steering and controlling expenses”. Cool.
But the content of the report is actually less positive. L'Equipe reports in particular the budgetary fears raised by Jacques Lambert and his audit committee team. At the top of the list, “ financing needs of the organization, as grossly updated by operational departments, significantly higher than the possibilities offered by income and the contingency reserve together. »
The report estimates that we will have to wait until the fall to know “ the exact order of magnitude of the residual budgetary risk to which one is exposed. the COJO. He believes that the risk in question “will undoubtedly justify strong and courageous decisions. » In short, a new savings plan, but also discussions with the IOC to obtain a reduction in the specifications.
Still according to the audit committee report, the amount of merchandising revenue, set at a target of 127 million euros, could prove difficult to achieve. Finally, the document highlights in black and white the risks linked to the security system. The private security network, expected to be heavily used during the Games, represents “ the greatest risk, both operational and budgetary, to which the Paris 2024 security budget is currently exposed"
Another report, supposed to be still confidential but disclosed last week by The chained Duck : a provisional document from the Court of Auditors on the security of the Paris 2024 Games. It lists several areas of concern, including the security of the opening ceremony on the Seine, with an expected audience of 600.000 people, the possible shortage of private security agents, terrorist risks and cyberattacks.
The Court of Auditors considers that the COJO must still work on the file. His report suggests that a “ more precise definition of security needs becomes urgent"
At the Elysée, this Monday July 25, the “ site meeting » wanted by Emmanuel Macron should not lack subjects. In addition to the inevitable budgetary and security issues, transport, employment, inheritance and mobilization issues should also be addressed.
Later in the day, Tony Estanguet will face the press, at the COJO headquarters in Saint-Denis, for a “ tight mic » after the announcement of the slogan, the Olympic Games calendar and the ticket office. Not sure that all the questions relate only to these three subjects.
