“A huge failure”, the impasse on the Paralympic Games in the official book of the 2024 Olympic Games provokes the indignation of athletes

The official book of the Paris Olympics, a book currently available in bookstores and which Le Figaro has included in its selection for Christmas, does not include a page on the Paralympic Games, which outrages the French Paralympic committee and several athletes. the title, “Paris 2024, the official book of the Olympic Games”and the rings announce the color: it will only be about the Olympics which took place from July 26 to August 11.

“It’s a stain. It doesn’t make the athletes happy.”reacted on Friday the French Paralympic Committee (CPSF) questioned by AFP. “People would undoubtedly have liked to have a photo of Aurélie Aubert (Olympic boccia champion, editor’s note) or Alexis Hanquinquant (paratriathlon gold)”added the CPSF spokesperson.

From the start, the Organizing Committee of the Paris Games has chosen to combine the two events as much as possible, although one is managed at a higher level by the IOC (international Olympic committee) and the other by the IPC (International Paralympic Committee). Two different international organizations, two different brands, and therefore different rights.

A manufacturing delay which would not have allowed the Paralympic Games to be included

Questioned about this impasse, the Olympic organizing committee indicated that “this book is a commercial product licensed by Paris 2024 and not an official document of the organizing committee”. The Cojo also highlights the deadlines for producing the book, delivered on September 2, i.e. before the end of the Paralympic Games. Stéphane Houdet, Olympic wheelchair tennis champion, denounced on France Inter a “huge failure”.

“I spoke yesterday with Hugo Sport Editions who told me that they had only contracted with the IOC and that they were convinced that the French disabled sports federation was going to publish a book on the Paralympics”he added on RMC sport. The radio also reports the dissatisfaction of Mickael Jérémiasz, ex-wheelchair tennis player and head of mission of the Paralympic delegation. According to the CPSF, no book is in preparation via the disabled sports federation. Another book dedicated to the Paris Olympics, The 2024 Golden Book of the Games (Solar editions) is also available and includes a few pages devoted to the Paralympic Games.