Like Marseilles did the week before, the historic city of La Rochelle has confirmed its support to the Paris 2012 Olympic dreams. Maxime Bono officially confirmed this commitment on 16 July 2004 when welcoming Jean-Paul Huchon, President of the Ile-de-France Region and Vice-President of Paris 2012; Ségolène Royal, President of the Poitou-Charentes Regional Council; and Essar Gabriel, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Paris 2012.
 
When claiming "La Rochelle’s exemplary site, with its clean water site and its world-class reputation", Maxime Bono reinforced Jean-Paul Huchon’s desire to see all the people from La Rochelle behind Paris 2012: "Our Bid is not Parisian or Francilian; it’s that of the entire French nation".
 
In presence of the local, regional and business dignitaries, Jean-Paul Huchon and Maxime Bono were on hand to inaugurate the "Paris 2012 House" in the La Rochelle Port.
 
The sporting world was also present and represented by Jean-François Fountaine, a former Olympic sailing athlete (1976) and vice-president of the Poitou-Charentes Regional Council. He emphasized the fact that "our offer to the IOC is based on the notions of post-Olympic legacy and sustainable development".

Jean-Paul Huchon also made the most of his presence in La Rochelle to welcome the arrival of the "Ile-de-France Region" boat dressed in the colours of Paris 2012. Skippered by Jimmy Pahun, the yacht was stopping in La Rochelle along with its competitors from the "Tour de France à la Voile" Sailing Competition.