The Frenchman, who is bidding to become President of the International Gymnastics Federation, claimed as much as 80 per cent of the infrastructure is already in place and that "it will not be so expensive" to host the 2024 Games.

"I think this is one of the most important points of the candidature," Guelzec told insidethegames at the latest Baku 2015 European Games gymnastics test event.

"There is also the very important point that there are other big cities which are not so far away from Paris, like Lyon." 

Confirmation of the French capital's candidature could come by the end of this month, following the delivery of a key feasibility study to political leaders, including the city's Mayor Anne Hidalgo, in February.

On receiving the report from Bernard Lapasset, President of the French International Sport Committee, Hidalgo said she would "submit the candidature decisions to the councils of Paris' 20 arrondissements at the end of March and to the Council of Paris in April".

Boston and Rome are already on the starting-line for the race, with Hamburg or Berlin set to follow, and although Guelzec acknowledges that the competition is strong, he believes Paris has a lot in its favour.

"Of course, I know that the other candidates also have good points," he explained. 

"When we're talking about the Olympic Games, we're always talking about money and about how expensive it is, but it's also one way to improve the economic situation [of a host nation]. 

"We have to find all these positive aspects."

Anne Hidalgo (right) received the report on Paris' candidacy for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games from Bernard Lapasset (left) last month ©Getty Images




French newspaper Le Monde, which is said to have secured access to the feasibility study, revealed that the budget stands at €6 billion (£4.5 billion/$7 billion), including organisation and infrastructure costs.

Although this is an extremely modest amount in comparison to the reported €12.2 billion (£8.8 billion/$13.2 billion) spent on London 2012, it still reflects a sizeable outlay for staging the Games, as Guelzec points out. 

"Of course, it's a lot of money," he added. 

"But it's not only during the Olympic Games that its impact is felt because you can then use what you invest for the Olympic Games afterwards. 

"It's a question of whether the country is clever enough to use them [the investments] in the right way after the Games."

The International Olympic Committee is due to choose the host city at its 2017 Session in the Peruvian capital of Lima. 

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