Paris turns into Olympic park as part of push to host 2024 Games

A general view from the Pont Alexandre III bridge shows an athletics track on the River Seine, with the Eiffel tower in the background, in Paris, France, June 23, 2017 as Paris is transformed into a giant Olympic park to celebrate International Olympic Days with a variety of sporting events for the public across the city during two days as the city bids to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. REUTERS/Charles Platiau

PARIS (Reuters) - A diver plunged into the Seine while the mayor of Paris took to the river in a kayak, as the French capital transformed itself on Friday into a giant Olympic park as part of its final push to win the rights to host the 2024 Games.

Paris and U.S. rival Los Angeles are the only two cities bidding to stage the 2024 Olympics, and the French capital is running a series of events over the weekend to promote its credentials.

Canoes and kayaks filled the Seine just outside Notre Dame cathedral, while the diver jumped into the river from one of the city's bridges.

(L-R) President of the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF) Denis Masseglia, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, Olynpic champion Marie-Jose Perec, and Tony Estanguet, co-president of the Paris candicacy for the 2024 Olympics, pose on an athletics track installed on the River Seine in Paris, France, June 23, 2017 as Paris transforms into a giant Olympic park to celebrate International Olympic Days with a variety of sporting events for the public across the city during two days as the city bids to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier

"This is a great opportunity for us to give a taster of what the Games will be like here in 2024," said former Olympic gold medal canoeist Tony Estanguet, who is leading Paris' bid to host the event.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo also turned up alongside Estanguet, with the two of them taking to the Seine in a kayak, not far from where sprinters pelted along a floating athletics track.

Paris last hosted the Olympics in 1924, while Los Angeles has held it twice - most recently in 1984.

A diver performs from the Pont Alexandre III bridge on the River Seine in Paris, France, June 23, 2017 as Paris is transformed into a giant Olympic park to celebrate International Olympic Days with a variety of sporting events for the public across the city during two days as the city bids to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. REUTERS/Charles Platiau

In July 2005 in Singapore, London pipped an over-confident Paris, which had lost out to Beijing for the 2008 Games, to win the right to stage the 2012 Summer Olympics, triggering tears in the French camp when the results were announced.

(Reporting by Reuters Television; Writing by Sudip Kar-Gupta; Editing by Alison Williams)

A diver performs from the Pont Alexandre III bridge on the River Seine in Paris, France, June 23, 2017 as Paris is transformed into a giant Olympic park to celebrate International Olympic Days with a variety of sporting events for the public across the city during two days as the city bids to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. REUTERS/Charles Platiau

A diver performs from the Pont Alexandre III bridge into the River Seine in Paris, France, June 23, 2017 as Paris transforms into a giant Olympic park to celebrate International Olympic Days with a variety of sporting events for the public across the city during two days as the city bids to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

A diver jumps into the River Seine as Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo in a canoe (C) and kayakers look on in Paris, France, June 23, 2017 as Paris transforms into a giant Olympic park to celebrate International Olympic Days with a variety of sporting events for the public across the city during two days as the city bids to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier

Hundreds of canoe and kayakers paddle under the Pont Alexandre III bridge on the River Seine in Paris, France, June 23, 2017 as Paris is transformed into a giant Olympic park to celebrate International Olympic Days with a variety of sporting events for the public across the city during two days as the city bids to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. REUTERS/Charles Platiau

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo (R) and the co-president of the Paris bid for the 2024 Olympics Tony Estanguet (L) take a selphie while they sail on the Seine river in Paris, France, June 23, 2017. Paris is transformed into a giant Olympic park to celebrate International Olympic Days with a variety of sporting events for the public across the city during two days as the city bids to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. REUTERS/Martin Bureau/Pool

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo waves to kayakers on the River Seine in Paris, France, June 23, 2017 as Paris transforms into a giant Olympic park to celebrate International Olympic Days with a variety of sporting events for the public across the city during two days as the city bids to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier/POOL

Kayakers are seen on the River Seine near the Pont Alexandre III bridge in Paris, France, June 23, 2017 as Paris transforms into a giant Olympic park to celebrate International Olympic Days with a variety of sporting events for the public across the city during two days as the city bids to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier

Olympic Judo champion Teddy Riner poses in a canoe on the River Seine in Paris, France, June 23, 2017 as Paris transforms into a giant Olympic park to celebrate International Olympic Days with a variety of sporting events for the public across the city during two days as the city bids to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier

Olympic champions Teddy Riner and Marie-Jose Perec react on an athletics track installed on the River Seine in Paris, France, June 23, 2017 as Paris transforms into a giant Olympic park to celebrate International Olympic Days with a variety of sporting events for the public across the city during two days as the city bids to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier

Olympic Judo champion Teddy Riner and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo react on an athletics track installed on the River Seine in Paris, France, June 23, 2017 as Paris transforms into a giant Olympic park to celebrate International Olympic Days with a variety of sporting events for the public across the city during two days as the city bids to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo (L) and former Olympic champion Guy Drut give the start for a 100m race by French athletes on an athletics track installed on the River Seine in Paris, France, June 23, 2017 as Paris transforms into a giant Olympic park to celebrate International Olympic Days with a variety of sporting events for the public across the city during two days as the city bids to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier/POOL

A general view from the Pont Alexandre III bridge shows an athletics track that floats on the River Seine, with the Eiffel tower in the background, in Paris, France, June 23, 2017 as Paris is transformed into a giant Olympic park to celebrate International Olympic Days with a variety of sporting events for the public across the city during two days as the city bids to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. REUTERS/Charles Platiau

Children take the start in a 100m race on an athletics track installed on the River Seine in Paris, France, June 23, 2017 as Paris transforms into a giant Olympic park to celebrate International Olympic Days with a variety of sporting events for the public across the city during two days as the city bids to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier

French athletes (L-R) G. Gilles, Nantenin Keita, Teddy Rinner, Marie-Jose Perec, Renaud Lavillenie, Heather Arneton, Nicolas Batum, Sarah Ourahmoune pose before the start for a 100m race on an athletics track installed on the River Seine in Paris, France, June 23, 2017 as Paris transforms into a giant Olympic park to celebrate International Olympic Days with a variety of sporting events for the public across the city during two days as the city bids to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier

Runners compete on an athletics track that floats on the River Seine, in Paris, France, June 23, 2017 as Paris is transformed into a giant Olympic park to celebrate International Olympic Days with a variety of sporting events for the public across the city during two days as the city bids to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. REUTERS/Charles Platiau

Olympic champions Teddy Riner (L) and Marie-Jose Perec (R) react on an athletics track installed on the River Seine in Paris, France, June 23, 2017 as Paris transforms into a giant Olympic park to celebrate International Olympic Days with a variety of sporting events for the public across the city during two days as the city bids to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. REUTERS/Charles Platiau

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo (R) and the co-president of the Paris bid for the 2024 Olympics Tony Estanguet paddle on the Seine River in Paris, France, June 23, 2017. Paris is transformed into a giant Olympic park to celebrate International Olympic Days with a variety of sporting events for the public across the city during two days as the city bids to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. REUTERS/Martin Bureau/Pool

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo (R) and the co-president of the Paris bid for the 2024 Olympics Tony Estanguet paddle on the Seine River in Paris, France, June 23, 2017. Paris is transformed into a giant Olympic park to celebrate International Olympic Days with a variety of sporting events for the public across the city during two days as the city bids to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. REUTERS/Martin Bureau/Pool

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo (L) and former Olympic champion Guy Drut (C) give the start for a 100m race by French athletes on an athletics track installed on the River Seine in Paris, France, June 23, 2017 as Paris transforms into a giant Olympic park to celebrate International Olympic Days with a variety of sporting events for the public across the city during two days as the city bids to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. REUTERS/Charles Platiau

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo (3rlL) and former Olympic champion Guy Drut (R) pose with French athletes and members of the CNOSF on an athletics track installed on the River Seine in Paris, France, June 23, 2017 as Paris transforms into a giant Olympic park to celebrate International Olympic Days with a variety of sporting events for the public across the city during two days as the city bids to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. At 2ndL President of the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF) Denis Masseglia, Tony Estanguet (5thL), co-president of the Paris candicacy for the 2024 Olympics, French Sports minister Laura Flessel (C), Ile de France region President Valerie Pecresse (4thR), and President of the French Paralympic Committee Emmanuelle Assman (C front). REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier

French police patrol on the Pont Alexandre III bridge near the Invalides in Paris, France, June 23, 2017 as Paris transforms into a giant Olympic park to celebrate International Olympic Days with a variety of sporting events for the public across the city during two days as the city bids to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier

A general view shows an athletics track on the River Seine, with the Eiffel tower in the background, in Paris, France, June 23, 2017 as Paris transforms into a giant Olympic park to celebrate International Olympic Days with a variety of sporting events for the public across the city during two days as the city bids to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier