The balanced budget of the Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Cojop) of Paris 2024 has long been a subject of concern before the event was held. The State had guaranteed 3 billion euros, just in case. Finally, the budget of the structure, which will have been of the order of 4.5 billion euros, “would be close to a balanced budget, or even a slight surplus”says the deputy (Together for the Republic) of Saône-et-Loire Benjamin Dirx, rapporteur of the finance committee on the appropriations for the sport, youth and community life mission, included in the 2025 draft budget. This is what that “the Cojop indicated during its hearing”he adds.
When questioned, Cojop management neither confirmed nor denied this statement. A board meeting is planned for December 12, during which the subject should be on the agenda. “The financial report will come within a few months”, more “there is no indication at this stage that the budget is not balanced”declared the president of Cojop, Tony Estanguet, on September 8 on Franceinfo. And to insist: “Our goal from the start has been to keep the budget balanced. »
In his report, Benjamin Dirx recalls that “this perspective” of accounts in balance would be “sustained” by two elements: ticketing revenue “higher than forecast, between 1.34 and 1.35 billion euros compared to the 1.24 billion euros initially anticipated”et “a check” security costs, “thanks to the early launch of the markets”, which would have allowed “ to set price ranges before the start of the Games and to avoid price inflation”.
However, the holding of the Paris 2024 budget is also due, in part, to the control exercised by the State over Cojop’s expenditure and revenue forecasts, as well as to the financial support it provided. to the latter twice, in December 2022 and in June 2024.
In his report, Benjamin Dirx recalls that“in total, the State’s contribution to Cojop has almost doubled, going from 80 million euros initially planned to 154.4 million euros”. In the documents annexed to the finance bill for 2025, state funding for Cojop is estimated at 157.8 million euros.
The distribution of any surplus
The State is not, however, the only one to have “paid into the pot” in order to ensure the balance of the Paris 2024 budget: the local authorities linked to the Games (City of Paris, Ile-de-France region, Métropole du Grand Paris) have also made their contributions of at least 46 million euros.
Furthermore, beyond its direct contribution to the Cojop budget, the State took responsibility for certain expenses (for more than 20 million euros) which, initially, had to be borne by the organizers: material expenses for the French anti-doping laboratory, purchase of materials distributed free of charge to the sporting world after the Games.
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If the surplus in the Paris 2024 accounts is confirmed at the time of the dissolution of the structure, planned for 2025, to whom will it be paid? It will be up to the general assembly of Cojop (whose status is that of an association under the 1901 law) to decide. The date of this meeting “has not yet been arrested”according to the management of Cojop.
According to the Games host city contract “20% of these funds will be allocated to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), 20% to the French National Olympic and Sports Council (CNOSF) and 60% to general expenses in the interest of sport”recalls Benjamin Dirx. Who it would be suitable for “that as many of these funds as possible be donated to the sports movement”. This subject of distribution has not “not yet addressed”declares the management of Paris 2024.
