Paris– The headquarters of the Paris 2024 Olympics organizing committee and SOLIDEO, the infrastructure partner, were raided by police on Tuesday as part of investigations into alleged embezzlement of public funds and favoritism, according to prosecutors. The searches were conducted as part of preliminary investigations initiated in 2017 and 2022 regarding contracts made by the organizing committee and an audit by the French Anti-Corruption Agency, respectively.
In response to the searches, Paris 2024 issued a statement confirming their cooperation with the investigators. The committee did not provide further details or additional comments following the prosecutors’ statement. The investigations coincide with the start of a two-day International Olympic Committee Executive Board meeting, which includes discussions on the progress of the preparations for the Paris 2024 Games.
The Paris 2024 Olympics, scheduled to take place from July 26 to August 11, with the Paralympic Games following from August 28 to September 6, has been marred by concerns over the budget. The total budget has risen to €8.8 billion ($9.62 billion), surpassing the initial estimate of €6.6 billion in 2017. The infrastructure costs alone are projected to reach €4 billion, compared to the original estimate of €3.2 billion.
The investigations into alleged financial misconduct challenge the Paris 2024 Olympics, as organizers strive to maintain transparency and ensure the Games are held with integrity and accountability.