Paris is bidding to host the 2008 Olympics, city mayor Jean Tiberi confirmed yesterday. French president Jacques Chirac telephoned International Olympic Committee president Juan Antonio Samaranch yesterday to tell him the news, a senior IOC member revealed. An official announcement is expected to be made in Paris today. Tiberi, who was at a function near the Parc des Princes, added he would be giving further details of the bid at a press conference on December 17th.

Paris' decision will put the French capital up against firm favourites Beijing, who announced their bid last month, the Japanese city Osaka and Kuala Lumpur. Seville, Istanbul, Toronto and Buenos Aires are considering joining them.