Will the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille be adorned with the inscription “Paris-2024” during the Olympic Games next summer? Some elected Marseille officials were worried about it, but the organizing committee reassured them this Sunday by explaining that it was not compulsory.
“As part of the Olympic events that we will host in Marseille in 2024, those of football will take place at the Stade Vélodrome which will be called Stade de Marseille throughout the competition. One point in particular holds our vigilance and calls for concern and deep disagreement on our part. This is the inscription of the Paris-2024 insignia on the exterior cap of the Stade Vélodrome”, wrote this week Samia Ghali, deputy mayor of Marseille, in a letter addressed to Tony Estanguet, president of the organizing committee of the OJ (Cojo).
Tony Estanguet present Tuesday in Marseille
“The Vélodrome is the temple of football in Marseille, with its historic club. Affixing Paris to the stadium would be very badly experienced by the Marseillaises and the Marseillais, ”said Samia Ghali on Sunday, interviewed by AFP.
Contacted by AFP, the organizing committee for its part explained “having clearly identified the specific question of the Vélodrome from the start”. “Paris 2024 is working with all the communities hosting the Games on the best way to deploy the “look of the Games” with an approach from the start that offers plenty of possible adaptations and for the first time a customizable look for the cities” , added the Cojo.
“It will be entirely possible not to put ‘Paris2024’ on the outer cap of the Vélodrome while putting the stadium in the colors of the look of the Games”, concluded the organizing committee. The question should be addressed during Tony Estanguet’s visit to Marseille on Tuesday, where the sailing test-event has been held since this Sunday.