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LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — IOC President Thomas Bach has praised Paris as an "exemplary" potential candidate to host the 2024 Olympics after meeting with French President Francois Hollande.
Speaking alongside Hollande at the Olympic Museum, Bach says he received "very, very encouraging" information Thursday.
Bach says "if this candidature continues in this spirit, you have everything in hand to enter the candidature phase in full confidence."
Hollande says the 2024 Olympics "is a great opportunity for the whole of France."
Paris, which hosted the 1924 Olympics, is not yet a formal applicant, but the expected bid was endorsed Monday by the city council.
Boston, Hamburg and Rome are already declared bidders.
The IOC has set a Sept. 15 deadline for applications and will choose the host in 2017.
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