Discovery Unites With Paris 2024 Bid Committee

07 Jun 2017 | tshego

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Discovery Communications and Eurosport is backing the Paris 2024 Olympic Games bid.

Discovery executives met with members of the Paris 2024 Olympic Bid Committee in a show of support for an Olympic Games to be held in Europe in 2024. Discovery Networks International president and CEO Jean-Briac Perrette and Eurosport CEO Peter Hutton met with Paris 2024 co-president, Bernard Lapasset, while in Paris for Roland Garros, a tournament that Eurosport broadcasts, and a venue which is part of the city’s bid to host tennis competitions during the 2024 Olympic Games.

Discovery Communications president and CEO David Zaslav, said: “When Discovery Communications secured the rights across Europe for the Olympic Games from 2018-2024, we did so with tremendous passion, commitment and ambition, irrespective of the location of the Games.

“A truly global company run by local market experts and teams, Discovery has significant operations in Paris and Los Angeles and we consider both to be world-class cities. That said, as Home of the Olympic Games in Europe through 2024, we are excited to show our support for the Paris bid and their quest to bring the 2024 Olympic Games back to Europe.”

Three-time Olympic champion and Paris 2024 co-chair Tony Estanguet, said: “We are grateful to have the backing of Discovery and Eurosport for our candidature for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. We are honoured to receive their support. Broadcast rights holders, such as Discovery, play a vital role within the Olympic Movement. Not only in their ability to share the Games with audiences around the world but also by providing essential resources, helping to bring sport to all at the heart of our society.”

Paris 2024 co-chair Bernard Lapasset, said: “The support of our bid by Discovery and Eurosport, demonstrates once again the strong unity and firm commitment across Europe to seeing the Olympic and Paralympic Games return to Paris for a centenary celebration in 2024. Paris 2024 will be a Games to welcome people from across the continent and around the world to share in our spectacular showcasing of sport and Olympism at the heart of our iconic city.”

Eurosport CEO, Peter Hutton, added: “Living in Paris, I’m very proud of the city’s passion for sport and its ability to deliver high quality events. We share the huge excitement of the local community, for the chance to represent not just the city, or country, but the whole of Europe. Paris 2024 would give everyone a chance, young and old, across Europe to experience premium and exclusive coverage of an Olympic Games close to home. This is a prospect that we find incredibly exciting.”

Discovery Communications holds the exclusive multimedia rights for 50 countries and territories in Europe for the 2018 through the 2024 Olympic Games.