PARIS, 13 July 2005 — Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe, still insisting London overtsepped the mark in its successful bid for the 2012 Olympics, has ruled out a new Paris bid for the 2016 Games.
“Paris will not be a candidate for 2016,” he said yesterday. Paris lost to London by four votes. It was their third failure after bidding unsuccessfully for the 1992 and 2008 Games.
British Premier Tony Blair was cleared of acting improperly for his part in helping London win the 2012 Games by International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge on Monday.
Delanoe had accused Blair of breaking bidding rules by meeting IOC members in Singapore ahead of the final vote.
But IOC President Jacques Rogge said: “Mr Blair was very successful in selling the idea that members should vote for London.
“London won because it was a great bid and its candidature file outstanding.”
French President Jacques Chirac did not arrive until the eve of last Wednesday’s IOC vote.
