07-16-2004
La Rochelle is racing for Paris 2012
If Paris were selected as the host of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, La Rochelle will host the Sailing competitions. The city’s Mayor Maxime Bono welcomed Jean-Paul Huchon, President of the Region Ile-de-France and Vice-President of Paris 2012, to seal their union around the Bid.
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M. Bono confirmed that people from La Rochelle are behind Paris 2012 Bid. (© G. Gentil - La Rochelle) |
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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.
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