2024 Paris Olympics HQ searched in corruption probe

The Paris organising committee said it was ‘co-operating with the investigators to facilitate their investigations’

French investigators are searching the headquarters of the 2024 Paris Olympics organisers in a probe into suspected corruption, according to the national financial prosecutor’s office. Photograph: Michel Euler/AP
French investigators are searching the headquarters of the 2024 Paris Olympics organisers in a probe into suspected corruption, according to the national financial prosecutor’s office. Photograph: Michel Euler/AP

French investigators are searching the headquarters of the 2024 Paris Olympics organisers in a probe into suspected corruption, according to the national financial prosecutor’s office.

The Paris organising committee said in a statement that a search is under way at its offices in the Saint-Denis suburb of the French capital, and that “Paris 2024 is co-operating with the investigators to facilitate their investigations.”

It would not comment further.

An official with the financial prosecutor’s office said the searches are linked to two investigations based on information provided by an anti-corruption agency.

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One of the probes was opened in 2017 into suspected embezzlement of public funds and favouritism, and concerns about an unspecified contract agreed by the Paris organisers, the prosecutor’s office said.

The other was opened in 2022 following an audit by the French anti-corruption agency.

The prosecutor’s office said that case targets suspected conflict of interest and favouritism involving several contracts agreed by the organising committee and Solideo, the company in charge of Olympic facilities.

The Paris Olympics are scheduled to take place from July 26th to August 11th, 2024.