Meeting for the first time since France officially became the next host country of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Paris 2024 Board of Directors, chaired by Tony Estanguet, has approved the guiding principles of the two flagship Games engagement programmes: the volunteer programme and the Torch Relay. Following the Tokyo 2020 Games, which were marked by the popular success of the two Handover1 ceremonies, Paris 2024 is further demonstrating its determination to open the Games to as many people as possible.

The Volunteer programme: the faces of the Paris 2024 Games

Three years from the start of the Games, the Paris 2024 Board has approved the guiding principles of the Volunteer programme, which will involve around 45,000 people. The volunteers will be the faces of the Paris 2024 Games in the eyes of the world, experiencing the organisation of the world’s biggest event from the inside, and contributing to delivering an unforgettable experience for all Games participants (Olympic and Paralympic delegations, media, stakeholders, spectators.)

The Paris 2024 Board has adopted the proposed Olympic and Paralympic Volunteer Charter. This charter is a first of its kind for a large-scale sports event. It was developed and validated together with the French State, the social partners represented within the Paris 2024 Social Charter Oversight Committee and the Paris 2024 Ethics Committee. The charter enables the roles entrusted to the volunteers to be properly defined and delineated. Paris 2024 is in this way committing to ensure each role is clearly defined and calibrated in order to offer volunteers the best possible experience. Roles likely to be entrusted to volunteers are grouped in six categories: welcome, orientation and assistance; sports operations support; organisational operational support; transport; medical services support; and ceremonies support.

Bernard Thibault, President of the Social Charter Oversight Committee and member of the Paris 2024 Board of Director, said : “By developing a volunteer charter together with the partners of the social charter and