Media and entertainment company Discovery Communications, an Olympic Games rights-holder in Europe, has taken the unusual step of publicly expressing its support for Paris’ bid for the 2024 summer Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Discovery Networks International president and chief executive Jean-Briac Perrette and Peter Hutton, chief executive of Discovery’s international sports broadcaster Eurosport, today (Thursday) met with Paris 2024 co-chair, Bernard Lapasset, while in Paris for the French Open, the grand slam tennis tournament that Eurosport broadcasts to over 50 countries in Europe.
Discovery holds the exclusive multimedia rights for 50 countries and territories in Europe for the Olympic Games spanning 2018 through to 2024, under a deal signed with the International Olympic Committee in June 2015. The contract applies to the 2022 and 2024 Games only in France.
Discovery Communications president and chief executive, David Zaslav, said: “When Discovery Communications secured the rights across Europe for the Olympic Games from 2018-2024, we did so with tremendous passion, commitment and ambition, irrespective of the location of the Games.
“A truly global company run by local market experts and teams, Discovery has significant operations in Paris and Los Angeles and we consider both to be world-class cities. That said, as Home of the Olympic Games in Europe through 2024, we are excited to show our support for the Paris bid and their quest to bring the 2024 Olympic Games back to Europe.”
Discovery’s announcement comes with the IOC due to meet in Lausanne tomorrow (Friday), with the bidding process for the 2024 Games on the agenda. The IOC has been considering a model through which it will award hosting rights for both the 2024 and 2028 Games on September 13 in Lima, Peru.
It is widely understood that under this model, Paris will secure the 2024 Games, with Los Angeles hosting in 2028.