France’s national railway company, SNCF, has agreed a deal to sponsor Paris’ bid to stage the 2024 summer Olympic and Paralympic Games.
SNCF will serve as an official partner of the bid and has pledged to use its international network to “bring territories closer”.
SNCF will assist on transport and mobility services in both the planning and delivery stages of the Games. The company will also feature the bid’s logo on its trains and stations across France and the rest of Europe.
The announcement brings the total number of companies supporting the bid to 18, with 14 official partners and four official suppliers.
“The SNCF support will be a tremendous asset for our visionary bid,” Paris 2024 chief executive Etienne Thobois said. “Paris 2024 has an international focus, and we want to ensure we involve all part of France and countries beyond our borders in the Games.
“The SNCF’s arrival will not only enable us to develop the national and European approach of our project but it will also reinforce the strength of our concept with the expertise of a leader in transport, an element which has always been a major issue for host cities.”
Los Angeles is now the only other city bidding to stage the 2024 Games after Budapest pulled out of the race last month. Bids from Rome and Hamburg had previously fallen by the wayside. The International Olympic Committee will announce the winning bid in Lima, Peru on September 13.
SNCF last week signed up as an official supporter of France’s bid to host the Rugby World Cup in 2023.