European Athletics – the continental governing body for the sport – has thrown its weight behind Paris’ bid for the 2024 Olympic Games.

The French capital city is one of two potential hosts, along with Los Angeles, bidding for the flagship sporting event.

At one point there were three European cities vying for the Games – Paris, Budapest and Rome. However, the latter two pulled out amid political resistance leaving Paris as the sole bidder from the continent.

“I am very happy, both personally and on behalf of European Athletics, to give my full backing and support to the Paris bid for the 2024 Olympic Games,” said European Athletics president Svein Arne Hansen.

“It’s not just a question of Paris being the sole European candidate and the fact that continental sports organisations should back each other in this respect.

“European Athletics has looked at both bids and we believe that Paris is the best from an overall perspective and specifically with regards to our sport.”

Paris has just been awarded the 2020 European Athletics Championships, and Hansen said the event would be a “wonderful opportunity” to test out the city’s infrastructure before the Olympic Games, should it be successful in its bid.

Hansen added that the body was “particularly impressed” with the Paris bid’s “commitment to sustainability”.

“Paris 2024 recently became the first-ever Olympic and Paralympic Bid Committee to receive an internationally recognised sustainability award only given to organisers who are able to guarantee the sustainable management of their event,” he said.

The winning bid for the Games will be revealed by the International Olympic Committee later this year.