Paris 2024 chief urges Brisbane’s Olympic Games organisers to be ambitious
Brisbane’s Olympic Games organisers have been told to “get a bit crazy” by the man tasked with making Paris 2024 a reality.
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Brisbane’s Olympic Games organisers have received a blunt message from the man tasked with delivering the Paris 2024 event; be ambitious and “get a bit crazy”.
Paris 2024 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games CEO Etienne Thobois used his keynote address at The Courier-Mail Future Brisbane forum to urge Queensland to take lessons from his city’s preparations.
Mr Thobois said it was essential Olympic Games organising committees were ambitious and said flying the Paris 2024 flag on the Eiffel Tower – which set a world record for its size – was an example of the city’s ambition.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity, don’t let it pass – you have to make big plans,” he said.
“You need to get a bit crazy.”
Questioned about what he would change if he had the time again, Mr Thobois said only one.
“We would try to be even more ambitious,” he said.
“You can achieve a lot through Games.”
He revealed the Paris organising committee would on December 13 decide final approvals to hold the opening ceremony in the city centre, which he said would greatly multiply the number of people who could attend.
During the Games Parisians would also be able to run the Olympic marathon on same day and in the same conditions as athletes.
Mr Thobois said there would be challenges in planning the Games and noted the deadly 2015 terrorist attacks during the country’s Olympic bid was a “big one”.
“You’re thinking is it worth it and the answer from the French public was yes it’s worth it – we want to welcome the world and show we are standing tall and proud,” he said.
“This is a national pride project.”
The former Olympic badminton player said the legacy of the Games was ensuring “we have the local people who can take on the baton” of the city.
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