Paris bids for 2024 Olympic Games

In a Saturday letter to the International Olympic Committee, French Olympic officials and civic leaders said they hope to bring the games to Paris in 2024.

"The Olympic spirit and the city of Paris share a common attachment to unity in diversity, tolerance in the face of differences and the same belief in peace of openness," explained the letter, addressed to IOC president Thomas Bach and signed jointly by French National Olympic Committee president Denis Masseglia and Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo.

Paris hosted the Olympics in 1900 and 1924; the city bid unsuccessfully for the 1992, 2008 and 2012 Games.

Hamburg and Rome filed their applications earlier this week, while Los Angeles, and Budapest have both indicated their intention to bid before next Tuesday's deadline.

'Tolerant Germany' could boost chances

German Olympic Committee president Alfons Hoermann says he believes Germany's liberal attitude toward war refugees could help the bid succeed.

"I'm firmly convinced that the image of a tolerant Germany will be viewed positively," Hoermann told Bild newspaper in an interview published on Saturday. "The welcoming culture towards the refugees links perfectly with the culture of welcoming a global sports festival such as the Olympic and Paralympic Games."

Hamburg's bid is contingent on approval of a citywide referendum on November 29.

Other cities tapped as possible contenders are Toronto, Doha and Baku.

A decision on the 2024 host city will be taken at the IOC congress in Lima in September 2017.

jar/bw (AFP, dpa)