Paris 2024 – In turn, Haute-Vienne says no to the passage of the Olympic flame
150,000 euro to pass the Olympic flame through his department. A sum far too large for the president of the Departmental Council of Haute-Vienne, Jean-Claude Leblois, who denounces a lack of clarity : “I know what it costs to accompany a sporting event, whether it’s the Tour du Limousin, the Tour de France. We have benchmarks and there, I have none.”
The amount is the same for all departments, small, large with a lot or little means. But for Haute-Vienne it’s too much for what she considers to be a publicity stunt. “We are not here to do business, we are here to entertain”completes Jean-Claude Leblois, “We have a roadmap in the field of sport, we will continue. And this money there, if we put it in the passage of the flame, we cannot put it for the associations”.
80 establishments in Upper Vienne labeled by the NOC
On the side of Departmental Olympic and Sports Committee, François Marcelaud, its president understands this decision. Even if he would still like to find an alternative: “Can’t we find another way to pass the flame? And we can use the network of volunteers to organize this passage? It’s still a pity. 54 schools, 16 colleges and 10 high schools have been certified by the NOC. The passage of the flame could be a high point.”
But flame or no flame, the Department of Haute-Vienne promises it: the Hauts-Viennois will celebrate the Olympics. He intends to record the blow in 2024 with animations within the clubs.
No decision yet in Corrèze
The president of the Corrèze Departmental Council, Pascal Coste, has not yet decided. He would keep doing something, but with other departments or why not with the Region to limit the cost of the operation.