The Organising Committees of the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Games have today signed a cooperation agreement, establishing a knowledge and skills transfer framework with the goal of optimising delivery of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

This agreement is fully aligned with the principles of the IOC’s Agenda 2020 and New Norm (efficient ways of working, cost reduction) It is focussed on two key areas:

Optimising preparations for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, through sharing of information, cross-promotion of the respective events, personnel development, volunteer recruitment, Ceremonies planning and use of each party’s specific expertise, for example in French language services (French being one of the official languages of the Games.)

Promoting the Olympic and Paralympic Movements, through sharing of best practice and working groups on subjects such as education, the Cultural Olympiad, environmental excellence and legacy.

The agreement was signed today, Wednesday, 11 July, in Tokyo (at the headquarters of the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee) alongside the visit of the IOC’s Coordination Commission for the Tokyo 2020 Games (10-12 July 2018), by Etienne Thobois and Toshiro Muto, the respective CEOs of Paris 2024 and Tokyo 2020.

Etienne Thobois, CEO of Paris 2024 said: “We are delighted to sign this cooperation agreement with our friends from Tokyo 2020. It marks the start of a new, more collaborative and partnership-led approach between the host cities, the IOC and the IPC, driven by a shared ambition to stage ever-more responsible and spectacular Games. As Paris 2024, we are proud to play our part in co-creating a new generation of more sustainable and useful Games, fully in line with the recommendations of the IOC’s Agenda 2020 and New Norm.”

Toshiro Muto, CEO of Tokyo 2020 said: “We are pleased to have signed this Memorandum of Understanding promoting cooperation between the two Organising Committees responsible for delivering the consecutive Olympic and Paralympic Games of Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024. This agreement will allow us to cooperate in a variety of areas, and we believe that both Committees will benefit from the synergies this win-win relationship will bring. We will go forward as a team building momentum in our respective preparations and leveraging each other’s knowledge.”

The agreement is a clear demonstration of the close partnership that now exists between the IOC, the IPC and the host cities, based on a common ambition to work together in shaping a new Games model, which will deliver greater cost-efficiency and meaningful community value.

It follows work already underway with Los Angeles 2028. Indeed, since the double award of the 2024 and 2028 Games, the Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028 teams have been working hand-in-hand, together with the IOC and the IPC.