The organisation behind the Paris Bid to host the 2012 Olympics (Paris 2012) launched an international tender for one or more world class Public Relations (PR) agencies to help support its Bid in key international markets within the IOC bidding rules.

The official notice of tender appeared on December 16th 2003 in the European Union (EU) Journal. It is the first time that Paris has sought international assistance on this scale, having worked exclusively with French agencies for its previous bids to host the 1992 and the 2008 Olympics.

Philippe Baudillon, CEO of Paris 2012, commented: “This is an important and progressive step for Paris 2012. We want to internationalise our Bid. Therefore we are looking for the world’s best Public Relations partners to help us listen to and converse with our audiences across the globe. However everything that we plan to do will adhere to the IOC bidding rules on when and how we can use international PR.”

“It is also a pre-emptive move so that we can be better prepared for the subsequent phases of the Bid process if Paris makes the International Olympic Committee [IOC] shortlist in May 2004.”

Under EU tender law, Paris 2012 could appoint their international PR agencies as early as March 2004.

It is expected that the selected agencies will work very closely with Publicis, a French-owned international agency that has been appointed by Paris 2012 to handle communications for the domestic market.

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Notes to Editors:

Agencies wishing to tender may read the tender’s invitation on the website Tenders Electronic Daily. Agencies looking to apply should send an e-mail to Stéphane Chaput, with the tender reference, a contact name, a postal  and e-mail address, a phone number,  or to give him a ring (+33 1 53 57 56 98).

The IOC vote to appoint the host city for the 2012 Olympics on July 6th 2005. In addition to Paris, the other Applicant Cities are: Havana, Leipzig, London, New York, Madrid, Moscow, Rio de Janeiro and Istanbul. These nine Applicant Cities could be reduced in numbers when the IOC announces a shortlist in May 2004. This will follow a review of a comprehensive questionnaire that each city has to complete by January 15th 2004. The guidelines and information on the 2012 Olympic Games Bid Process can be accessed on: www.olympics.org

The initial Venue Plan for Paris 2012 will be available from the January 15th and can be obtained from Essar Gabriel.

The contact information for Paris 2012 Bid Officials can be accessed from Paris 2012 website: www.parisjo2012.fr

For other information unrelated to this tender, please call E. Pottier: