Prosecutors opened investigations in 2017 and 2022 of alleged embezzlement of public funds, favoritism and concealment of favoritism in reference to contracts awarded prematurely of the Video games.
The “investigation ought to be allowed to run its course,” the Paris 2024 committee stated in an announcement confirming its headquarters had been searched.
“Paris 2024 is cooperating actively with investigators to facilitate their enquiries and supply solutions to all of the questions raised as rapidly as attainable,” the committee stated in a follow-up assertion later within the day, noting it had arrange an inner ethics committee to oversee its actions.
Whereas Paris 2024′s places of work have been being raided, the Worldwide Olympic Committee’s government committee was listening to a scheduled report from IOC officers lauding Paris 2024′s organizers for promoting new sponsorship offers and rapidly promoting out the 6.8 million tickets which were put up on the market.
In a press name after the assembly, Christophe Dubi, the IOC’s government director, praised Paris 2024 leaders for what he referred to as “transparency” and “cooperation” within the investigation, including that Paris 2024 “took the suitable perspective” in the way it has dealt with the raid.
“We now have all causes to be assured,” Dubi stated, referring each to the French investigation and the IOC’s perception in Paris 2024′s capability to host the Video games.
The raid comes lower than a month after Brigitte Henriques, the previous president of France’s Nationwide Olympic Committee, which organizes the French Olympic group, introduced her sudden resignation and requested for an inner audit following public pressure with different committee leaders.
French President Emmanuel Macron, who was an outspoken proponent of internet hosting the Video games, has staked political capital on their success, saying bold initiatives within the run-up, together with a plan to scrub the Seine and Marne rivers to make them swimmable.
Monetary scandals have rocked the Olympics in recent times, together with bribery fees tied to the 2020 Tokyo Video games sponsorships.
The Paris Video games are scheduled to happen July 26 to Aug. 11 subsequent 12 months.
Les Carpenter contributed to this report.