Paris 2024 organisers vow to not change Olympic 'DNA'

The budget for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris currently remains unchanged despite the coronavirus pandemic, according to the head of the organising committee.

Tony Estanguet, in a conference call Wednesday, added that his committee would not bow to external criticism to change the DNA of the Summer Games in four years' time.

"This crisis is not over and we must keep a lot of humility," Estanguet, a three-time Olympic champion for France in slalom canoe, said of the COVID-19 outbreak that has led to more than 257,000 deaths worldwide.

"What is certain is that the challenge will be enormous.

"Concretely, that means always trying to be one step ahead, to have room to manouevre to anticipate anything unforseen."
"Then there is the question of legacy. How this project is useful, how it makes it possible to revive the French economy because a few billion euros will be reinvested, jobs generated, how will we do so that the markets will benefit businesses..."
"We will also examine how we optimise other lines to save money. But today, the budget for Paris-2024 is still the same."
"It will take a little longer, but the target remains the same."
"It is the heart of the Games and I am not sure that it is the first place to start making savings."