In an ongoing series of corruption investigations into contracts associated with the Paris Olympic Games, French police conducted a search at the headquarters of the Paris Olympic organizers on Tuesday. This marks the third instance of graft allegations overshadowing a Summer Olympics. The Paris organizing committee acknowledged the search and stated its full cooperation with the investigators. The committee also emphasized the implementation of rigorous procedures in the awarding of several hundred contracts for the Games.
According to an official from the financial prosecutor’s office, who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to office policy, the search conducted on Tuesday, along with previous raids, is connected to two preliminary investigations concerning the Paris Olympics. The first investigation was initiated in 2017, the year when Paris was selected as the host for the 2024 Games by the International Olympic Committee, while the second investigation commenced last year.
The world’s largest sporting event, the Olympic Games, has been plagued by corruption allegations on numerous occasions. These allegations encompass various aspects, ranging from the process of awarding the Games to the distribution of contracts for construction, sponsorship, and team services.
Incidents of vote buying associated with the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics and the 2021 Tokyo Games resulted in the expulsion of several International Olympic Committee (IOC) members. The scandals surrounding the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games prompted reforms aimed at restricting IOC members’ interaction with candidate countries. However, despite these reforms, the potential for corruption has not been completely eradicated.
In the latest scandal to hit the Summer Olympics, French police conducted a search at the headquarters of the Paris Olympic organizers as part of corruption investigations related to contracts associated with the Games. This marks the third consecutive instance where allegations of graft have marred the Olympics.
The Paris organizing committee acknowledged the search and expressed its cooperation with the investigators. The committee defended its implementation of stringent procedures in awarding several hundred contracts for the Games.
The search conducted on Tuesday, along with other related raids, is connected to two ongoing preliminary investigations into the Paris Olympics. One investigation was initiated in 2017 when Paris was selected as the host for the 2024 Games by the International Olympic Committee, while the other investigation began last year. These investigations had not been publicly disclosed until Tuesday.
Corruption allegations have been a recurring issue in the Olympic Games, ranging from accusations surrounding the bidding process to the distribution of contracts for construction, sponsorship, and team services. Previous instances include vote buying allegations linked to the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics and the 2021 Tokyo Games, which led to the removal of several IOC members. Reforms were implemented following scandals surrounding the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games, aiming to limit IOC members’ interactions with candidate countries but without completely eliminating the possibility of corruption.
Despite efforts by Paris 2024 organizers to demonstrate a difference, the Games have now been overshadowed by corruption allegations. As the largest event hosted by France in decades, the Games were intended to symbolize openness and serve as a celebration of democracy after recent World Cups in Qatar and Russia were tainted by human rights concerns. The organizers and Paris city hall emphasized transparency and social justice, including plans for an outdoor opening ceremony along the Seine River that would be free for up to half a million people. The Games are scheduled to take place from July 26 to August 11, 2024.
The anti-Olympics group called Saccage 2024, which advocates against the Olympics due to the perceived ecological and social harm they cause, expressed satisfaction with the raids conducted by the authorities. They believe that an event of such magnitude inevitably involves corruption, regardless of the host country.
The investigation initiated in 2017 focuses on allegations of embezzlement of public funds and favoritism, as well as concerns regarding an undisclosed contract entered into by the Paris organizers, according to the prosecutor’s office.
The second investigation, launched in 2022, stems from an audit conducted by the French Anti-corruption Agency. This case targets suspected conflicts of interest and favoritism related to several contracts involving both the organizing committee and Solideo, the public body responsible for Olympic infrastructure.
These investigations indicate the serious nature of the allegations surrounding the Paris Olympics and highlight the authorities’ efforts to address potential corruption and ensure transparency in the Games’ preparations.
Prosecutors have confirmed that the offices of Solideo, the public body responsible for Olympic infrastructure, were also subjected to a search. Additionally, according to Le Monde newspaper, raids were conducted at the headquarters of several companies and consultants associated with the organization of the Paris Games.
Solideo’s role involves overseeing the construction and renovation of over 60 projects for the multibillion-dollar Olympics, including the athletes’ village in the Saint-Denis neighborhood, which is intended to provide approximately 2,000 housing units after the conclusion of the Games.
The Paris 2024 organizers declined to comment on the specific contracts mentioned by the prosecutors or the alleged misconduct. However, in a statement, Paris 2024 highlighted that it is subject to extensive scrutiny as one of the most audited organizations in France. They emphasized that their governance is regularly monitored, and strict procedures are in place to ensure transparency and integrity in relation to contracts.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) acknowledged that the Paris Olympic organizers are cooperating with the authorities, according to a statement. However, the IOC did not provide any further comments on the ongoing investigations.
The raids took place while the IOC executive board was convening for a two-day meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland.
IOC President Thomas Bach mentioned that the meeting would address matters related to Paris, including positive developments following the coordination mission and his visit to France to meet with President Macron and the organizing committee.
Paris was awarded the hosting rights for the Olympics six years ago, along with Los Angeles being awarded the 2028 Summer Games, eliminating the need for a contested vote and reducing the potential for vote-trading and bribery. The bidding process has since undergone further changes to restrict public campaigning. Brisbane was selected two years ago as the host city for the 2032 Summer Games after being pre-selected by the IOC for exclusive negotiation rights.
Considering the IOC’s concerns regarding cost overruns and the risk of constructing underutilized venues, the Paris bid leaders emphasized during their campaign that their project aligned with IOC recommendations by utilizing existing facilities and infrastructure to optimize cost savings.
The Paris bid for the 2024 Games emphasized the utilization of existing facilities, with over 70% of the proposed venues already in place, and an additional 25% planned as temporary structures. However, the overall budget, which includes the cost of building and renovating venues, currently stands at around 8 billion euros ($8.2 billion), exceeding the initial estimate. Inflation has contributed to the increase in costs.
The lead-up to the 2024 Games has been marked by turmoil within French sports. Just recently, the president of the French Olympic Committee resigned amid intense internal conflicts.
Moreover, Noël Le Graët resigned as president of the French soccer federation in February after a government audit concluded that his behavior towards women and his management style undermined his legitimacy to lead. Bernard Laporte also resigned as president of the French Rugby Federation in January after being convicted of corruption and illicit acquisition of assets, resulting in a suspended prison sentence.
In October of the previous year, Claude Atcher was dismissed from his position as the chief executive of the Rugby World Cup. The event, scheduled to take place in France in September, will also serve as a test of the country’s security preparations for the Olympics. Atcher’s removal came after an investigation by French labor inspectors into his conduct within the workplace.
