GL Events demands 30 million euros from the Games Organizing Committee

Three months after the Olympic and Paralympic Games (OPG), the time for the final closing of the accounts is approaching for the Organizing Committee (Cojop) of Paris 2024. And with it its share of unforeseen expenses. While Cojop is due to meet its board of directors on December 12, the GL Events group, specializing in events, is demanding 30 million euros from it, reveals the digital daily The Letter, Monday December 2.

These are end-of-contract adjustments, according to Olivier Ferraton, the deputy general director of GL Events, to whom Paris 2024 has entrusted 70% of the logistical organization of sports competitions – including the equestrian events at the Château de Versailles or those of judo at the temporary Grand Palais – and 100% of the electricity supply to the sites.

“We have been working closely with the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee for years. The dismantling and closing period is no exception to this rule”specifies at Monde the company, which neither confirms nor denies the amount revealed by The Letter.

Asked, Cojop for its part refutes the existence of an extension from GL Events. “This is not a figure we have”specifies the management of the organizer of the Games, who adds that the current budgetary discussions “take into account all possible risks with partners or service providers”.

“A crazy playground”

The JOPs brought in 360 million euros for GL Events, the events group announced in early September when presenting its half-year results. Paris 2024 was “a crazy playground”as we don't see “only once in his career”welcomed Olivier Ginon, the president of GL Events.

The demand of the group based in Lyon comes at a bad time for Paris 2024. Tony Estanguet, the boss of Cojop, and his teams, now reduced to 150 people – more than 4,000 at the height of the JOP –, worked hard during the months which preceded the Games to maintain the structure's budget at around 4.5 billion euros. Thanks in particular to the contribution of the State and public authorities involved in the Games, which respectively increased their contributions to 175 million euros and nearly 50 million for the organization of the event – ​​excluding construction of Olympic infrastructure .

“A slight surplus” is even possible, declared in mid-November the deputy (Together for the Republic) of Saône-et-Loire Benjamin Dirx, rapporteur of the finance committee on the appropriations of the sport, youth and associative life mission, registered in the draft 2025 budget. “There is no indication at this stage that the budget is not balanced”declared Tony Estanguet on September 8 on Franceinfo.