QUÉBEC CITY, Quebec, March 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --The Mayor of Québec City, Régis Labeaume, will travel to Lausanne, Switzerland, this coming April 11, to attend a meeting initiated by the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach.
"Over the past several years, I have often mentioned that the gigantism of the Olympic Games and the astronomical costs involved in organizing them no longer made any sense - to the point where no large city would be interested in hosting them any more, and that this situation might perhaps lead the IOC to call us, stated the Mayor of Québec City, Régis Labeaume. This day came last December 4, when the IOC invited Québec City to a meeting to present its new frame of reference, Olympic Agenda 2020. I will meet with the President, Thomas Bach, and his team there. The population of Québec City knows my position concerning the Olympic Games, and until further notice, it remains unchanged."
"The Gouvernement du Québec looks favourably upon this new approach by the IOC, which seems open to reviewing downward the costs involved in hosting the Olympic Games. From this viewpoint, Québec will support the City in its analysis and reflection process as to whether to move forward following its meeting with the President of the International Olympic Committee", stated the Minister responsible for Government Administration and Ongoing Program Review, Chair of the Conseil du trésor and Minister responsible for the Capitale-Nationale region, Sam Hamad.
Within the next few years, if Québec City decided to submit a bid, the following conditions would all have to apply:
- strong and unwavering social acceptability on the part of the population;
- support from the different levels of government;
- respect of the financial framework of Québec City;
- a real likelihood of being selected at the Canadian level and by the IOC.
For further information: David O'Brien, Media Relations, City of Québec, 418641-6210, david.obrien@ville.quebec.qc.ca
