A few weeks back, on my way to Poland, I had a connecting flight in Paris. During my stroll toward the Châtelet train station, I came across the majestic Hôtel de Ville again, with its amazing Renaissance-style architecture. On that particular day, it brought to mind a historical event that unfolded many years ago.

On the 6th of July 2005, the host city for the 2012 Summer Olympics was announced. As I looked at the Hôtel de Ville, memories came back of the disappointment and the "noise" from the crowd gathered there when "London" was declared the selected city.

As I reflected on that past occasion, I couldn't help but think of the future. The people of Paris will be in the spotlight next year, since they will host the 2024 Summer Olympics.