According to Reuters, Martins, a key sporting figure in French politics, says the Paris City Council will vote to enter the race when they officially decide at a meeting on Monday (April 13).

It is widely expected that the French capital, which last hosted the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 1924, will declare that they are bidding for the event.

Paris lost out in a tight race, despite being considered favourites, to host the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, which was won by arch-rivals London.

If Paris does decide to formally announce their candidacy for the 2024 Games, they will join the German city of Hamburg, Italian capital Rome and American city Boston on the start line, and bids as far afield as South Africa and Qatar have also been rumoured but not substantiated.

Martins also confirmed that it would purely be a bid for the 2024 Games and not for 2028 should it not be chosen for the event in nine years’ time.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo initially refused to publicly endorse any potential bid for the Games back in May 2014, claiming it was low on her list of priorities.

"A good job was made by the sporting world in explaining why and how (to bid) so we are going towards this vote with optimism,” Martins said.

“The Mayor is convinced.

“We had budgetary, ethical, ecologic demands.

“But it shows we are not ecstatic.

“We are ambitious, passionate, but reasonable.”

Support seems to be growing in the French capital, and an official bid edged closer in February with the delivery of a feasibility study into the strengths and weaknesses of hosting the world’s largest multi-sport event.

The study was likely to have been positive, and Martins insists they will create a sustainable bid, utilising current facilities such as the Stade de France and Roland Garros, which plays host to the French Open tennis tournament each year.

“We will not create a white elephant,” Martins added.

“We can also build temporary facilities just like London did.”

A recent poll, conducted on February 2 and 3 and published by Direct Matin, a free daily newspaper, also showed support as it put approval for a 2024 bid by the French capital at 73 per cent.

Even though Paris has yet to definitely confirm its bid, they have already had support from the likes of outgoing International Association of Athletics Federation President Lamine Diack, who gave his backing to the French capital in March.

Cities who wish to enter the race must do so by September 15, and the IOC will announce the winner at the 130th IOC Session in the Peruvian capital of Lima in 2017.