Partially confirming information released by France Télévisions, the Public Prosecutor's Office stated that the operations take place within the scope of two preliminary investigations, opened in 2017 and 2022, into suspected illegal actions of interests and favoritism.
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Both are related to contracts awarded by institutions linked to the organization of the Games.
The COJO indicated that an operation was underway at its headquarters in Saint-Denis, near the French capital, without revealing the reason.
With the Olympic Games 14 months away, the OCOG “fully collaborates with investigators to facilitate investigations,” the committee said.
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According to a source close to the investigation, the search operations are coordinated by the OCLCIFF (Central Agency for the Fight against Corruption and Financial and Tax Offenses) and the BRDE (Financial Brigade of the Paris Judicial Police).
COJO is constituted in the form of an association. The Court of Auditors monitors its activities and is expected to publish a report soon.
In April 2021, two reports from the French Anti-Corruption Agency (AFA) on the organization of the Games highlighted “risks of lack of probity and conflicts of interest”, damaging the image of the “exemplary” Olympic Games desired by the president of the organizing committee, Tony Estanguet .
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The two initial reports, presented in early 2021, focus on COJO and Solideo, the public company responsible for building several venues for the Olympic Games.
AFA inspectors found the overall procurement process to be “inaccurate and incomplete.” They also pointed out that sometimes there are “situations of potential uncontrolled conflicts of interest”.
