IOC denies rumours of Paris Games cancellation

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has dismissed speculation that the upcoming Paris Games will be cancelled or postponed due to the political situation in France, saying it is part of a disinformation campaign.

IOC President Thomas Bach has reportedly expressed concern over the victory of the far-right National Rally (RND) party led by Marine Le Pen in the first round of the legislative elections. The second round is scheduled for Sunday.

Le Point magazine had suggested that Bach had given a deadline of mid-July to know if the Games would take place as planned, from July 26 to August 11, but the IOC quickly denied this hypothesis.

“This is obviously part of the ongoing disinformation campaign against France, the IOC and its president, as well as the Olympic Games. It has absolutely no factual basis,” the IOC said on the X platform on Wednesday evening.

“The IOC President and the entire Olympic Movement look forward to the excellent Olympic Games Paris 2024.”

French organizers said they would investigate the origin of the information, and Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra called it “indecent fake news” about X.

“Our Games will indeed take place in Paris, on the scheduled dates. We have been preparing for them for years; they will bring happiness to the whole world and pride to our country,” she said.