Sports enthusiast, football fan, Emmanuel Macron was not yet officially invested in his position as president whom he already called Thomas Bach, five days after his victory in the second round against Marine Le Pen on May 7, 2017. Then, two days after the transfer of power with François Hollande and the day after a trip to Germany to meet Angela Merkel, he received the IOC evaluation commission for breakfast at the Élysée by promising to come to Lausanne, then to Lima, the scene of the 131st session of the International Olympic Committee sealing the vote for the 2024 Olympics. "This is an additional demonstration of what we have already received in terms of guarantees from the State, the French public authorities that are behind this 200% candidacy," savored the late Patrick Baumann, the president of this evaluation commission, very happy with his stay in Ile-de-France.
Romain Molina
Extraordinary, magnificent, sublime, the usually taciturn Swiss had been ecstatic when visiting the sites by insisting on the preponderance of the Seine. With a lunch concocted by Michelin-starred chef Thierry Marx on a fly boat, the Olympic delegation was entitled to sumptuous hospitality: personalized dinner at the Petit Palais, presentation of photos or objects recalling the glorious past of former athletes sitting on this commission, the candidacy committee did not joke about the means. Promising to comply with all the IOC’s requests, especially taxes, France had been particularly docile with Al-Sabah, Bach, Coates, Pound and all the other monarchs making up this funny family that had closed its eyes to the purchases of votes, the criminal activities of its leaders, endemic corruption, institutionalized doping, the massive debt of the host cities, and the broken lives of so many champions. Started under Nicolas Sarkozy, built and shaped under François Hollande, Paris 2024 was going to be concluded by Macron without any change of course or program for men who claimed to be three different political currents; perhaps that was the magic of the Games.
Macron's subservience – the Lausanne pact still holds today
On the platform marked with Olympic rings overlooking Lake Geneva, Emmanuel Macron stared with consideration at his host, Thomas Bach. Master of ceremonies, the German began this joint press conference that marked the official visit of the French Head of State to the Olympic Museum and IOC headquarters on July 10 and 11, 2017. "The IOC has always had excellent relations with France. It is no coincidence since our founder, Pierre De Coubertin, is a constant reminder of our strong historical link," he said in excellent French. "This visit adds a new chapter and a new dynamism to our common history."
Using all the clichés imaginable, which obviously did not apply to the IOC, Bach repeated his score under the crackling of the flashes by letting himself go to a little pun: "The candidacy of Paris 2024 is underway." With the radiant face with the pin’s of the candidacy attached to his night blue suit jacket, Macron spoke with a rare reverence towards this little man with an azure look. "I am here, by your side, with great pride, determination and humility. Because we recover with your wisdom," he began in front of an audience including several investigative journalists quite amused by the qualifier wisdom.
"I will do everything so that the bid can be there and participate in this win-win-win that you mentioned. And the second is because I think that carrying the values of Olympism is what our world needs. France will be by your side. In a world that doubts, sometimes fractures, where tensions are reborn, where multilateralism – this order that was created a century ago a few kilometers from here and a few decades ago on both sides of the Atlantic – is called into question, we need multilateralism, these structures that carry harmony between nations. We need these values of peace, freedom, tolerance that the Olympic movement illustrates, embodies tremendously. So that’s also what I came to defend today. Long live this Olympic spirit that you wear and at the side of which you will always know how to find me. Thank you Mr. President!"
Bach approached his young guest, his bust straight, his face delighted, to give him a sincere handshake and an almost paternal hug.
In Lausanne, there was only one president.
This 24-hour Vaud getaway, interspersed with a visit to the Olympic Museum and a night at the Beau-Rivage Palace, was not, however, appreciated by the entire French delegation, relegated to figuration more than anything else.
