French PM pledges 1 billion euros to Paris 2024 bid

LE BOURGET, France (AP) French Prime Minister Manuel Valls pledged one billion euros ($1.1 billion) of support from the government for Paris' bid to host the 2024 Olympic Games.

In a country often rocked by social conflicts and strikes, Paris bid leaders also announced on Friday they struck a deal with France's five main trade unions. Paris bid leaders said the ''social pact'' sealed with the trade unions will guarantee a ''smooth and effective games-time operation'' and benefit jobs creation.

At a news conference near the planned sites for the Olympic village and media center, Valls said the state funding represented two thirds of the public money invested in the bid.

The infrastructure budget for the games is expected to total 3 billion euros, with operational costs of 3.2 billion euros.

''Paris is contending with solid guarantees, including the support of public authorities, which is not necessarily the case with all other bids,'' Valls said.

The IOC said it received the second part of the bid dossiers from Paris, Budapest, Los Angeles, and Rome, even though the latter's bid has been rejected by its city council.

The IOC said on Friday it was still in contact with the Italian Olympic committee and Rome bid leaders.

The IOC will choose the host city next September.