Paris 2024 signs 20th partner

French-headquartered global energy company Engie has agreed a deal to sponsor Paris’ bid to stage the summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2024.

Engie becomes the 20th company to back the French capital’s bid, and the 16th official partner.

Engie has been working with the Paris 2024 team for a number of months on the energy and environmental aspects of the bid.

A section of one of the company’s research and development sites in Paris has also been made available for the planned construction of an aquatics centre for the Games. The site is located close to the Stade de France and the proposed Athletes’ Village in Seine-Saint-Denis.

Tony Estanguet (pictured), co-chair of the Paris 2024 bid, said: “With less than 100 days until the vote for the 2024 host city, this partnership confirms that our project remains a very attractive prospect. It responds to issues that go beyond sport and showcases what France has to offer. The arrival of a world-leading company and innovator in clean energy to our side further strengthens our ambition for the most sustainable Games in the history of the Olympic movement.”

Paris is widely expected to land hosting rights to the 2024 Games, with Los Angeles, the other city in contention, set to stage the event in 2028. International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach confirmed last week that the governing body’s Executive Board has “unanimously approved” the award of the 2024 and 2028 Games at the same time. An announcement will be made at the IOC session in Lima, Peru in September.