Paris becomes 4th city to join race for 2024 Olympic Games

Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo, center, announces the candidacy of Paris for the 2024 Olympic games, in Paris, Tuesday June 23, 2015. Paris declared its candidacy for the 2024 Olympics on Tuesday, becoming the fourth city to enter the race and setting out its vision for bringing the games back to the French capital for the first time in 100 years. Standing at left is the President of Paris region Jean-Paul Huchon and at right the President of the International Rugby Federation Bernard Lapasset. (AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere) Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo, center, announces the candidacy of Paris for the 2024 Olympic games, in Paris, Tuesday June 23, 2015. Paris declared its candidacy for the 2024 Olympics on Tuesday, becoming the fourth city to enter the race and setting out its vision for bringing the games back to the French capital for the first time in 100 years. Standing at left is the President of Paris region Jean-Paul Huchon and at right the President of the International Rugby Federation Bernard Lapasset. (AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere)

By Associated Press June 23, 2015 4 min read

PARIS (AP) – Paris declared its candidacy for the 2024 Olympics on Tuesday, becoming the fourth city to enter the race and setting out its vision for bringing the games back to the French capital for the first time in 100 years.

The Paris bid, which has been in the works for months, was formally launched in a ceremony at the headquarters of the French Olympic Committee that was attended by dozens of leading French athletes.

“We believe that this bid and our goal to host the 2024 Games will excite, unite and enthuse the people of Paris, our entire nation and lovers of Olympic and Paralympic sport all over the world,” bid chairman Bernard Lapasset said.

Paris joins Rome, Boston and Hamburg as declared bidders, with Budapest also expected to join the contest.

Paris has scheduled a second bid ceremony on Bastille Day on July 14, with French President Francois Hollande and other top political figures expected to take part.