Waitstaff in Paris took to the streets in a quirky race on Sunday (Mar 24), participating in a tradition that dates back some 110 years.

A few hundred waiters and waitresses donned their uniforms and tried balancing&nbsp;trays with a pastry, an empty coffee cup, and a&nbsp;glass of water&nbsp;for the 2&nbsp;km loop of the Course des Cafés which started and finished at City Hall.

The tradition returned to the city ahead of the Olympics and was held in the heart of the French capital.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korean-medical-professors-join-trainee-doctors-strike-against-government-plan-703982">South Korean medical professors join trainee doctors' strike against government plan</a>

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PARIS 
 
Just In- Paris resumes century-old tradition bistro waiter race after a 13-year pause. 
 
25 Mar 2024 
 
A tradition dating back to 1914 has been revived by local authorities as Paris is getting ready to welcome the Olympics Games this summer. Dozens of participants set off… <a href="https://t.co/XSjNHLJOzE">pic.twitter.com/XSjNHLJOzE</a>
— Abhay( मोदी परिवार ) (@AstuteGaba) <a href="https://twitter.com/AstuteGaba/status/1772134394410762598?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<h2>Back after more than a decade</h2>

As per Oxford Mail, the revival of the race comes after a 13-year hiatus, and is part of Paris's efforts to shine in the Olympic spotlight and showcase its charm for its first Summer Games in a century.&nbsp;

It celebrates the skilled and, at times, temperamental men and women who have made Parisian restaurants and cafés famous.

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As per reports, the first waiters' race took place around 110 years back, in 1914.

<h2>Winners of the 2024 race</h2>

This year, the winner of the women's category, Pauline Van Wymeersch, completed the race in 14 minutes and 12 seconds. She started working as a server at 16 and, at 34, cannot imagine any other life for herself. Despite the challenges of the profession, she expressed her love and dedication, saying, "It's in my skin. I cannot leave it."

Samy Lamrous won the men's race with a time of 13 minutes and 30 seconds.&nbsp;

Both winners received medals, two tickets each for the July 26 Olympic opening ceremony along the River Seine, and a night at a Paris hotel.

While the event was filled with smiles, participants acknowledged the demanding nature of their jobs. In France, waiters and waitresses are known for their assertiveness and can even be seen as abrupt or moody at times. However, they take pride in their profession and are not afraid to stand their ground.

Highlighting the importance of cafés and restaurants, Anne Hidalgo, the mayor of Paris, called the city's wait staff "the soul of Paris."&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Waitstaff in Paris took to the streets in a quirky race on Sunday (Mar 24), participating in a tradition that dates back some 110 years. A few hundred waiters and waitresses donned their uniforms and tried balancing trays with a pastry, an empty coffee cup, and a glass of water for the 2 km loop of the Course des Cafés which started and finished at City Hall.

Waitstaff in Paris took to the streets in a quirky race on Sunday (Mar 24), participating in a tradition that dates back some 110 years. A few hundred waiters and waitresses donned their uniforms and tried balancing trays with a pastry, an empty coffee cup, and a glass of water for the 2 km loop of the Course des Cafés which started and finished at City Hall. The tradition returned to the city ahead of the Olympics and was held in the heart of the French capital. Also read | South Korean medical professors join trainee doctors' strike against government plan Take a look: PARIS Just In- Paris resumes century-old tradition bistro waiter race after a 13-year pause. 25 Mar 2024 A tradition dating back to 1914 has been revived by local authorities as Paris is getting ready to welcome the Olympics Games this summer. Dozens of participants set off… pic.twitter.com/XSjNHLJOzE — Abhay( मोदी परिवार ) (@AstuteGaba) March 25, 2024 × Back after more than a decade As per Oxford Mail, the revival of the race comes after a 13-year hiatus, and is part of Paris's efforts to shine in the Olympic spotlight and showcase its charm for its first Summer Games in a century. It celebrates the skilled and, at times, temperamental men and women who have made Parisian restaurants and cafés famous. Also read | Ecuador's youngest mayor Brigitte Garcia found shot dead inside car As per reports, the first waiters' race took place around 110 years back, in 1914. Winners of the 2024 race This year, the winner of the women's category, Pauline Van Wymeersch, completed the race in 14 minutes and 12 seconds. She started working as a server at 16 and, at 34, cannot imagine any other life for herself. Despite the challenges of the profession, she expressed her love and dedication, saying, "It's in my skin. I cannot leave it." Samy Lamrous won the men's race with a time of 13 minutes and 30 seconds. Both winners received medals, two tickets each for the July 26 Olympic opening ceremony along the River Seine, and a night at a Paris hotel. While the event was filled with smiles, participants acknowledged the demanding nature of their jobs. In France, waiters and waitresses are known for their assertiveness and can even be seen as abrupt or moody at times. However, they take pride in their profession and are not afraid to stand their ground. Highlighting the importance of cafés and restaurants, Anne Hidalgo, the mayor of Paris, called the city's wait staff "the soul of Paris." (With inputs from agencies)

Watch | Paris revives 110-year-old tradition with quirky waiter race ahead of 2024 Olympics

India's Avinash Sable has become the first track athlete from the country to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Sable achieved the feat during the 3,000m steeplechase competition at the Silesia Diamond League. Sable clocked his second career-best time of 8 minutes and 11.63 seconds, beating the qualifying mark of 8:15.00 with a decent margin. His career-best is 8:11.20, which is also a national record in the event.

He finished sixth in the race which was won by reigning world and Olympic champion El Bakkali Soufiane in the meet record time of 8:03.16. Kenyan duo of Abraham Kibiwot (8:08.03) and Leonard Kipkemoi Bett (8:09.45) finished second and third, respectively.

Watch here:

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamIIS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamIIS</a> athlete Avinash Sable finishes sixth in the 3000m steeplechase at the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SilesiaDL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SilesiaDL</a>. ⚡️ 
 
With a season best timing of 8:11.63s, he has also sealed qualification for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Paris2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Paris2024</a>. 🤩<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Olympics?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Olympics</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CraftingVictories?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CraftingVictories</a> 🇮🇳 <a href="https://t.co/KxmrPrIBix">pic.twitter.com/KxmrPrIBix</a>
— Inspire Institute of Sport (@IIS_Vijayanagar) <a href="https://twitter.com/IIS_Vijayanagar/status/1680600841152237568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 16, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Sable is overall sixth Indian to qualify for the quadrennial event. Before him, 20km race walkers -- Akshadeep Singh, Vikas Singh and Paramjeet Singh Bisht qualified for the men's event.

Priyanka Goswami had qualified for the same women's event. Long jumper Murali Sreeshankar was the fifth one to qualify before Sable.

The Olympics committee considers men's and women's race walk in road events while the long jump comes under field event, making Sable the first track athlete from the country to qualify. The Olympic qualifications began July 1, 2023, and will continue till June 30, 2024.&nbsp;

The 28-year-old, with his sixth-place finish in Silesia, now has seven points in the Diamond League 2023 standings, including three from his latest race. Sable is currently ninth overall in the event in three Diamond League legs he took part in. He had finished 10th during the Rabat leg and a whopping fifth in Stockholm, with the timings of 8:17.18 and 8:21.88, respectively.

The athletes are awarded points instead of medals at eight legs of Diamond League in the run-up to the final. Top eight finishers overall of each event after all eight legs compete in the final for the trophy. The Diamond League Final 2023 will be held in Eugene, USA on September 16 and 17.

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India's Avinash Sable has become the first track athlete from the country to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Sable achieved the feat during the 3,000m steeplechase competition at the Silesia Diamond League.

India's Avinash Sable has become the first track athlete from the country to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Sable achieved the feat during the 3,000m steeplechase competition at the Silesia Diamond League. Sable clocked his second career-best time of 8 minutes and 11.63 seconds, beating the qualifying mark of 8:15.00 with a decent margin. His career-best is 8:11.20, which is also a national record in the event. He finished sixth in the race which was won by reigning world and Olympic champion El Bakkali Soufiane in the meet record time of 8:03.16. Kenyan duo of Abraham Kibiwot (8:08.03) and Leonard Kipkemoi Bett (8:09.45) finished second and third, respectively. Watch here: #TeamIIS athlete Avinash Sable finishes sixth in the 3000m steeplechase at the #SilesiaDL. ⚡️ With a season best timing of 8:11.63s, he has also sealed qualification for #Paris2024. 🤩#Olympics #CraftingVictories 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/KxmrPrIBix — Inspire Institute of Sport (@IIS_Vijayanagar) July 16, 2023 × Sable is overall sixth Indian to qualify for the quadrennial event. Before him, 20km race walkers -- Akshadeep Singh, Vikas Singh and Paramjeet Singh Bisht qualified for the men's event. Priyanka Goswami had qualified for the same women's event. Long jumper Murali Sreeshankar was the fifth one to qualify before Sable. The Olympics committee considers men's and women's race walk in road events while the long jump comes under field event, making Sable the first track athlete from the country to qualify. The Olympic qualifications began July 1, 2023, and will continue till June 30, 2024. The 28-year-old, with his sixth-place finish in Silesia, now has seven points in the Diamond League 2023 standings, including three from his latest race. Sable is currently ninth overall in the event in three Diamond League legs he took part in. He had finished 10th during the Rabat leg and a whopping fifth in Stockholm, with the timings of 8:17.18 and 8:21.88, respectively. The athletes are awarded points instead of medals at eight legs of Diamond League in the run-up to the final. Top eight finishers overall of each event after all eight legs compete in the final for the trophy. The Diamond League Final 2023 will be held in Eugene, USA on September 16 and 17. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Avinash Sable becomes first Indian track athlete to qualify for 2024 Paris Olympics - WATCH

The construction of the Olympic athletes village is on time and on budget as organisers promise to deliver safe Games, the general director of Paris 2024 said on Friday (March 24). With little over a year to go for the start of the Paris Olympics, questions regarding Russian athletes and player accommodation have taken center stage.

"Most of my colleagues in the past were stressed about the delivery of the infrastructures. I must say I'm not on that side with Paris 2024. I'm very cool and serene, we will deliver on time and on budget," Thobois said from the top of one of the buildings.

"We will take over the village one year from now. The construction will be finishe in January and it the village will be fully delivered in March."

Some 6,000 will live in the neighbourhood, which spans over the suburban cities of Saint-Ouen, Saint-Denis and L'Ile Saint-Denis.

"The various buildings here are will have a final use that will be different, some will be social housing, some will be private housing, some will be offices, so will be public services," Thobois said.

"And during the Games the use of the building might be different, because we will need as many beds as possible. So, that will mean overlay, that will mean a transformation. It's a bit of an extra work but that's again the guarantee that the legacy will be best addressed."

There will be no air conditioning in the athletes' rooms at Paris 2024, but a cooling system will be used instead. Security, however, has been a hot topic following the 2023 Champions League final debacle and amid tensions over the reform of the pension system.

Thobois said there will be a police station in the village and that the Interior Ministry has launched a programme around petty crimes as well as added security in public transport.

The construction of the Olympic athletes village is on time and on budget as organisers promise to deliver safe Games, the general director of Paris 2024 said on Friday (March 24).

The construction of the Olympic athletes village is on time and on budget as organisers promise to deliver safe Games, the general director of Paris 2024 said on Friday (March 24). With little over a year to go for the start of the Paris Olympics, questions regarding Russian athletes and player accommodation have taken center stage. "Most of my colleagues in the past were stressed about the delivery of the infrastructures. I must say I'm not on that side with Paris 2024. I'm very cool and serene, we will deliver on time and on budget," Thobois said from the top of one of the buildings. "We will take over the village one year from now. The construction will be finishe in January and it the village will be fully delivered in March." Some 6,000 will live in the neighbourhood, which spans over the suburban cities of Saint-Ouen, Saint-Denis and L'Ile Saint-Denis. "The various buildings here are will have a final use that will be different, some will be social housing, some will be private housing, some will be offices, so will be public services," Thobois said. "And during the Games the use of the building might be different, because we will need as many beds as possible. So, that will mean overlay, that will mean a transformation. It's a bit of an extra work but that's again the guarantee that the legacy will be best addressed." There will be no air conditioning in the athletes' rooms at Paris 2024, but a cooling system will be used instead. Security, however, has been a hot topic following the 2023 Champions League final debacle and amid tensions over the reform of the pension system. Thobois said there will be a police station in the village and that the Interior Ministry has launched a programme around petty crimes as well as added security in public transport.

Paris Olympics 2024: Athlete's village delivery will be on time - Organisers

Thousands of Olympic athletes on boats cruising along the River Seine toward the sun setting like a giant gold medal behind the Eiffel Tower.

The 2024 Paris Games opening ceremony vision was unveiled on Monday as an event organizers hope will be unique in Olympic history and free for hundreds of thousands to watch on the riverside.

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26-07-2024 
 
Paris, la Seine, ses monuments, ses quais...pour un spectacle unique. 
 
Célébrons le sport dans la ville ! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Paris2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Paris2024</a> vous invite à la première cérémonie d'ouverture des Jeux Olympiques au cœur de la ville ! <a href="https://t.co/6drQJijubO">pic.twitter.com/6drQJijubO</a>
— Paris 2024 (@Paris2024) <a href="https://twitter.com/Paris2024/status/1470683767366987780?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 14, 2021</a></blockquote>
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ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wont-go-to-beijing-winter-olympics-2022-but-no-protest-says-austrian-leader-436875">Won't go to Beijing Winter Olympics 2022, but no protest, says Austrian leader</a>

Rethinking the ceremony that announces an Olympics to the world by taking it outside the traditional stadium setting was long hinted at by Paris officials.

Details revealed for the July 26th 2024 show help explain a promise to use the City of Light, its culture and people as essential actors in the Olympics.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/winter-olympics-china-warns-australia-uk-us-for-diplomatic-boycott-says-will-pay-price-for-wrong-acts-435445">Winter Olympics: China warns Australia, UK, US for diplomatic boycott, says 'will pay price for wrong acts'</a>

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Opening Ceremony - COMING SOON <a href="https://t.co/CAdHyiUUNu">pic.twitter.com/CAdHyiUUNu</a>
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Opening Ceremony - COMING SOON <a href="https://t.co/A4O9rTJfZb">pic.twitter.com/A4O9rTJfZb</a>
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For starters, the water-borne opening ceremony will innovate by having the parade of athletes from more than 200 teams begin the evening instead of end it.

It will also be free to view for most of the expected 600,000 spectators lining the six-kilometer (four-mile) route.&nbsp;

Thousands of Olympic athletes on boats cruising along the River Seine toward the sun setting like a giant gold medal behind the Eiffel Tower. The 2024 Paris Games opening ceremony vision was unveiled on Monday as an event organizers hope will be unique in Olympic history and free for hundreds of thousands to watch on the riverside.

Thousands of Olympic athletes on boats cruising along the River Seine toward the sun setting like a giant gold medal behind the Eiffel Tower. The 2024 Paris Games opening ceremony vision was unveiled on Monday as an event organizers hope will be unique in Olympic history and free for hundreds of thousands to watch on the riverside. 26-07-2024 Paris, la Seine, ses monuments, ses quais...pour un spectacle unique. Célébrons le sport dans la ville ! #Paris2024 vous invite à la première cérémonie d'ouverture des Jeux Olympiques au cœur de la ville ! pic.twitter.com/6drQJijubO — Paris 2024 (@Paris2024) December 14, 2021 × ALSO READ: Won't go to Beijing Winter Olympics 2022, but no protest, says Austrian leader Rethinking the ceremony that announces an Olympics to the world by taking it outside the traditional stadium setting was long hinted at by Paris officials. Details revealed for the July 26th 2024 show help explain a promise to use the City of Light, its culture and people as essential actors in the Olympics. ALSO READ: Winter Olympics: China warns Australia, UK, US for diplomatic boycott, says 'will pay price for wrong acts' 26/07/2024 - #Paris2024 Opening Ceremony - COMING SOON pic.twitter.com/CAdHyiUUNu — Paris 2024 (@Paris2024) December 13, 2021 × 26/07/2024 - #Paris2024 Opening Ceremony - COMING SOON pic.twitter.com/A4O9rTJfZb — Paris 2024 (@Paris2024) December 13, 2021 × For starters, the water-borne opening ceremony will innovate by having the parade of athletes from more than 200 teams begin the evening instead of end it. It will also be free to view for most of the expected 600,000 spectators lining the six-kilometer (four-mile) route.

Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony to be held on the River Seine - WATCH

The inclusion of breakdancing at the 2024 Olympics may been surprising but organisers were drawn to the sport`s potential to attract a younger fanbase and grow the Olympic audience in the internet age, Paris Games chief Tony Estanguet said. 
 
Breakdancing was one of four new sports to win a spot at the Games in Paris - alongside surfing, skateboarding and sports climbing - after the International Olympic Committee ratified their inclusion earlier this month. 
 
Estanguet added that though the decision to add breakdancing to the Games roster had come in for some criticism, most of the feedback he had received had been overwhelmingly positive. 
 
"What attracted us to this sport was its ability to attract the youth," he told Reuters in an interview. "It`s a sport that is widely watched on all digital platforms, widely consumed by young people. 
 
"It`s very impressive technically and physically, what these athletes manage to do, and that`s why we were attracted to this sport. The feedback has been very good. 
 
"There are always a few critics, but overall... I see that throughout the different regions of France, there is very positive feedback on the addition of breakdance as a new sport." 
 
Games` organisers had been on the hunt for new sports to broaden the appeal of the Olympics and breakdancing fit the bill because it had already been part of the programme at the Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires in 2018, he added. 
 
"We found climbing, skateboarding, surfing and breakdance, and we are really adding events that come from a completely different world, with fans, who would not necessarily be connected to the Olympic Games otherwise," Estanguet said. 
 
"This allows us to expand the number of fans and viewers." 
 
The 2020 Games in Tokyo were postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and public opinion on whether the event should go ahead is mixed, with 60% of respondents in a November poll saying the Tokyo Games should be postponed further or cancelled. 
 
Estanguet said there are no such reservations about the 2024 Olympics in France. 
 
"What is a matter of public opinion in Tokyo is specific to Tokyo," he added. "We carried out a survey this week which shows that in France, Paris 2024 continues to receive wide support from the French."

The inclusion of breakdancing at the 2024 Olympics may been surprising but organisers were drawn to the sport`s potential to attract a younger fanbase and grow the Olympic audience in the internet age, Paris Games chief Tony Estanguet said.

The inclusion of breakdancing at the 2024 Olympics may been surprising but organisers were drawn to the sport`s potential to attract a younger fanbase and grow the Olympic audience in the internet age, Paris Games chief Tony Estanguet said. Breakdancing was one of four new sports to win a spot at the Games in Paris - alongside surfing, skateboarding and sports climbing - after the International Olympic Committee ratified their inclusion earlier this month. Estanguet added that though the decision to add breakdancing to the Games roster had come in for some criticism, most of the feedback he had received had been overwhelmingly positive. "What attracted us to this sport was its ability to attract the youth," he told Reuters in an interview. "It`s a sport that is widely watched on all digital platforms, widely consumed by young people. "It`s very impressive technically and physically, what these athletes manage to do, and that`s why we were attracted to this sport. The feedback has been very good. "There are always a few critics, but overall... I see that throughout the different regions of France, there is very positive feedback on the addition of breakdance as a new sport." Games` organisers had been on the hunt for new sports to broaden the appeal of the Olympics and breakdancing fit the bill because it had already been part of the programme at the Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires in 2018, he added. "We found climbing, skateboarding, surfing and breakdance, and we are really adding events that come from a completely different world, with fans, who would not necessarily be connected to the Olympic Games otherwise," Estanguet said. "This allows us to expand the number of fans and viewers." The 2020 Games in Tokyo were postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and public opinion on whether the event should go ahead is mixed, with 60% of respondents in a November poll saying the Tokyo Games should be postponed further or cancelled. Estanguet said there are no such reservations about the 2024 Olympics in France. "What is a matter of public opinion in Tokyo is specific to Tokyo," he added. "We carried out a survey this week which shows that in France, Paris 2024 continues to receive wide support from the French."

Olympics-Breakdancing included in Paris 2024 to reach out to youth: Games Chief

Breakdancing has become Olympic sport after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that four new sports have made it to the 2024 Paris Olympics with breakdancing being one of them.

Breakdance will make Olympic debut at 2024 Paris Games

US&nbsp;home-sharing site&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/suspects-held-in-halloween-shooting-at-california-airbnb-262454">Airbnb</a>&nbsp;on Thursday won its battle to&nbsp;remain&nbsp;exempt&nbsp;from&nbsp;onerous&nbsp;European&nbsp;property&nbsp;regulations, as the EU's top court ruled it was an online platform and not a&nbsp;property&nbsp;agent.

The case came before the Court of Justice of the&nbsp;European&nbsp;Union (CJEU) following a complaint by French tourism association AHTOP.

The issue underlines the quandary regulators face in dealing with new online services venturing into traditional businesses, but not subjected to the same&nbsp;rules.

For&nbsp;Airbnb, the French case is significant as the International Olympic Committee has agreed to promote the company for accommodation during the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/russia-recieves-a-four-year-olympic-ban-266130">2024 Olympics</a> in Paris.

Judges in essence accepted the company's arguments that it is an online platform and not a&nbsp;property&nbsp;agent.

"The nature of the links between the intermediation service and the provision of accommodation did not justify departing&nbsp;from&nbsp;the classification of that intermediation service as an 'information society service'," the CJEU said.

The court also faulted France for not notifying the&nbsp;European&nbsp;Commission, the EU executive, of the requirement for&nbsp;Airbnb&nbsp;to hold an estate agent's professional licence.

Airbnb&nbsp;welcomed the judgment.

"We want to be good partners to everyone and already we have worked with more than 500 governments to help hosts share their homes, follow the&nbsp;rules&nbsp;and pay tax," it said in a statement.

Airbnb&nbsp;has in recent years dueled with hoteliers and authorities in cities&nbsp;from&nbsp;New York to Amsterdam, Berlin and Paris, accused of worsening housing shortages and pushing out lower income residents.

The case is C-390/18&nbsp;Airbnb&nbsp;Ireland.

US home-sharing site Airbnb on Thursday won its battle to remain exempt from onerous European property regulations, as the EU's top court ruled it was an online platform and not a property agent.

US home-sharing site Airbnb on Thursday won its battle to remain exempt from onerous European property regulations, as the EU's top court ruled it was an online platform and not a property agent. The case came before the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) following a complaint by French tourism association AHTOP. The issue underlines the quandary regulators face in dealing with new online services venturing into traditional businesses, but not subjected to the same rules. For Airbnb, the French case is significant as the International Olympic Committee has agreed to promote the company for accommodation during the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Judges in essence accepted the company's arguments that it is an online platform and not a property agent. "The nature of the links between the intermediation service and the provision of accommodation did not justify departing from the classification of that intermediation service as an 'information society service'," the CJEU said. The court also faulted France for not notifying the European Commission, the EU executive, of the requirement for Airbnb to hold an estate agent's professional licence. Airbnb welcomed the judgment. "We want to be good partners to everyone and already we have worked with more than 500 governments to help hosts share their homes, follow the rules and pay tax," it said in a statement. Airbnb has in recent years dueled with hoteliers and authorities in cities from New York to Amsterdam, Berlin and Paris, accused of worsening housing shortages and pushing out lower income residents. The case is C-390/18 Airbnb Ireland.

Airbnb wins fight to remain exempt from European property rules

American media giant Discovery, the rights holder for the Olympics in Europe, on Thursday announced its backing to the Paris bid to host the 2024 Games.

Discovery, which also owns pan-European television network Eurosport and holds the European rights to the Olympics for the period 2018-2024, said in a statement: &quot;Today, Discovery Communications and Eurosport, Home of the Olympic Games in Europe, met with members of the Paris 2024 Olympic Bid Committee in a show of support for an Olympic Games to be held in Europe in 2024.&quot;

The announcement comes as Paris competes with Los Angeles for the right to host the Games. The winning bid will be named by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Lima in September.

There are suggestions that the IOC will decide to award one city the 2024 Games and the other 2028.

&quot;We are excited to show our support for the Paris bid and their quest to bring the 2024 Olympic Games back to Europe,&quot; said Discovery Communications president and CEO David Zaslav.

The IOC&#39;s executive committee will meet on Friday in Lausanne, Switzerland, to discuss the issue of announcing the hosts of the 2024 and 2028 at the same time this year.

The IOC is keen on a joint award in an effort to lock in two host candidates which offer low-risk, high-quality bids at a time when fewer cities are willing to take on the vast expense of staging the Olympics.

Publicly, however, both Paris and Los Angeles bid officials have stuck to the line that they remain focused only on 2024.

The IOC announced in June 2015 that Discovery had acquired the European rights for the Olympics for the six years to 2024 for a sum of 1.3 billion euros ($1.46 billion).

The period also covers the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo as well as the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, and the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing.

(AFP)

American media giant Discovery, the rights holder for the Olympics in Europe from 2018 to 2024, announces its backing to the Paris bid to host the 2024 Games.

American media giant Discovery, the rights holder for the Olympics in Europe, on Thursday announced its backing to the Paris bid to host the 2024 Games. Discovery, which also owns pan-European television network Eurosport and holds the European rights to the Olympics for the period 2018-2024, said in a statement: "Today, Discovery Communications and Eurosport, Home of the Olympic Games in Europe, met with members of the Paris 2024 Olympic Bid Committee in a show of support for an Olympic Games to be held in Europe in 2024." The announcement comes as Paris competes with Los Angeles for the right to host the Games. The winning bid will be named by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Lima in September. There are suggestions that the IOC will decide to award one city the 2024 Games and the other 2028. "We are excited to show our support for the Paris bid and their quest to bring the 2024 Olympic Games back to Europe," said Discovery Communications president and CEO David Zaslav. The IOC's executive committee will meet on Friday in Lausanne, Switzerland, to discuss the issue of announcing the hosts of the 2024 and 2028 at the same time this year. The IOC is keen on a joint award in an effort to lock in two host candidates which offer low-risk, high-quality bids at a time when fewer cities are willing to take on the vast expense of staging the Olympics. Publicly, however, both Paris and Los Angeles bid officials have stuck to the line that they remain focused only on 2024. The IOC announced in June 2015 that Discovery had acquired the European rights for the Olympics for the six years to 2024 for a sum of 1.3 billion euros ($1.46 billion). The period also covers the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo as well as the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, and the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing. (AFP)

2024 Olympics: Media giant Discovery backs Paris bid

The city of Paris will spend 300 million euros over the next 15 years to renovate the Eiffel Tower.&nbsp;

It is a 45 per cent increase in funding to upgrade the iconic Parisian monument. Earlier, the annual outlay was 13.7 million euros every year, whereas now the government will spend 20 million euros.

The upgrade work is part of Paris&#39; attempt to host the 2024 Olympics -- Budapest and Los Angeles are the cities vying to organise the quadrennial event -- and the 2025 World Expo.

Mayor Anne Hidalgo wants to &quot;highlight the&nbsp;Eiffel&nbsp;Tower&nbsp;even further, to make it a flawless showcase of the Parisian welcome&quot;, city hall said in a statement.

The&nbsp;Eiffel&nbsp;Tower&nbsp;plan, to be submitted for approval to the city council at the end of the month, includes stepping up security, modernising ticketing facilities and improving the visitor experience.

Officials are looking into better ways to manage visitor flows, reduce waiting times and protect queuers from the elements, the city&#39;s tourism chief Jean-Francois Martins told AFP.

The monument&#39;s scintillating nightly light show will also be updated.

The&nbsp;Eiffel&nbsp;Tower, inaugurated for the 1889 equivalent of the World Expo, is the world&#39;s most visited paying monument, taking in some six million visitors each year.

(WION with inputs from AFP)

The 15-year plan to refurbish the iconic Parisian monument as part of its 2024 Olympics bid

The city of Paris will spend 300 million euros over the next 15 years to renovate the Eiffel Tower. It is a 45 per cent increase in funding to upgrade the iconic Parisian monument. Earlier, the annual outlay was 13.7 million euros every year, whereas now the government will spend 20 million euros. The upgrade work is part of Paris' attempt to host the 2024 Olympics -- Budapest and Los Angeles are the cities vying to organise the quadrennial event -- and the 2025 World Expo. Mayor Anne Hidalgo wants to "highlight the Eiffel Tower even further, to make it a flawless showcase of the Parisian welcome", city hall said in a statement. The Eiffel Tower plan, to be submitted for approval to the city council at the end of the month, includes stepping up security, modernising ticketing facilities and improving the visitor experience. Officials are looking into better ways to manage visitor flows, reduce waiting times and protect queuers from the elements, the city's tourism chief Jean-Francois Martins told AFP. The monument's scintillating nightly light show will also be updated. The Eiffel Tower, inaugurated for the 1889 equivalent of the World Expo, is the world's most visited paying monument, taking in some six million visitors each year. (WION with inputs from AFP)

Eiffel Tower to undergo 15-year renovation for over $300 million

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