In France, the police raided the headquarters of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris on Tuesday.
According to the news agency AFP’s information source, a similar investigation has also been conducted into the body responsible for the construction of the Games.
Prosecutors at France’s Serious Financial Crimes Commission (PNF) confirmed to AFP that they had authorized the raids, which are related to two separate investigations. According to the spokesperson of the prosecutors, the investigations are related to “illegal conflicts of interest, misuse of public funds and favoritism”.
The first investigation was launched in 2017 by corruption and economic crime investigators. According to the prosecutors, the background of the investigation is many contracts signed by “several influential decision-makers related to the Olympic Games, in particular Cojo (Paris Games Organizing Committee) and its predecessor GIP 2024 (Games Application Committee)”.
A second investigation began in 2022 and was handed over to the BRDE, the economic unit of the Paris police. They investigate suspicions of, among other things, conflicts of interest.
The PNF acted after France’s anti-corruption agency (AFA) raised doubts about several contracts signed by Cojo and Solideo. Solideo is responsible for the construction projects of the Paris Games.
Cojo and Solideo have announced that they will fully cooperate with the researchers. This is the first time that such a raid has been conducted on the organizing committee of the Olympic Games.
The French capital will serve as the main stage of the Games in July-August next year.