Searches took place on Wednesday at the headquarters of the organizing committee for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games (COJO) as well as in several event agencies responsible for the opening ceremonies. This new investigation comes in addition to two other procedures already underway concerning suspicions of irregularities in the award of contracts linked to the organization of the Games.
The COJO, as well as the companies Double 2, Ubibene, Obo and Paname 24, were raided by financial investigators from the Central Office for the Fight against Corruption and Financial and Tax Offenses (Oclciff). These searches take place as part of a preliminary investigation into illegal taking of interest, favoritism and concealment, opened following other searches carried out in June 2023.
These new investigations relate to several contracts awarded for the organization of the 2024 Games. Around twenty contracts are examined by the investigators, who are particularly interested in possible favoritism and misappropriation of public funds. Among the companies raided, Paname 24, which brings together five major French event production agencies, is particularly concerned. This company is responsible for the executive production of the opening ceremonies of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The Games organizing committee, for its part, assured to collaborate fully with the investigation and provided all the information requested by the National Financial Prosecutor’s Office (PNF).
These new revelations add to the tensions already present around the organization of the 2024 Olympics. Indeed, for several months, suspicions of favoritism and embezzlement have surrounded the awarding of contracts linked to the event. These investigations could call into question the transparency of the organization of the Games and affect the credibility of the organizing committee.
It is important to emphasize that all this information comes from sources close to the case and that no legal decision has yet been rendered. It is therefore appropriate to remain cautious and wait for the conclusions of the investigations to rule on possible irregularities in the organization of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.