On Wednesday 31 March, the European Commission authorised 17 million euros in investment aid for the reconstruction of ‘hall 3’ at the Paris-Le Bourget exhibition centre.
The centre will host the media centre for the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games. The new hall 3 will be taller and larger to meet the technical requirements of the International Olympic Committee.
The costs of demolition and reconstruction amount to 50 million euros and will be borne largely by the company SIAE, which owns the hall, and by Viparis, its operator.
French public support will help to cover these costs.
The Commission found that the aid in question will enable the Olympic Games to be hosted in the best possible conditions, which will contribute to the promotion of sport and will have significant spin-offs for several economic sectors, mainly in the Île-de-France region.
The reconstruction of hall 3 will also contribute to the revitalisation of a disadvantaged area around the commune of Le Bourget, in line with the EU’s cohesion policy. Noting that, in the absence of State aid, the SIAE would not have considered the reconstruction of hall 3 to meet its own needs, the Commission also considered that the amount of 17 million was proportionate, as it is lower than the financing gap of the infrastructure. Given the limited additional surface area of the new hall, distortions of competition will be limited. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)