Overview
- The Council of Paris voted to award the organisation of the 2027–2030 Paris marathon and semi‑marathon to the Cadence consortium, with the motion passing 78 in favour, 44 against and 13 abstentions on Wednesday.
- Cadence, made up of Keneo, Havas Events and Avena Event, was rated the top offer by the city and guarantees a minimum annual fee of €3.5 million to Paris, nearly double the previous arrangement.
- The winning proposal includes specific social and environmental measures such as free entries for RSA beneficiaries, accessible zones for people with disabilities, packaging‑free refreshment points and a pledge to use 100% renewable energy for the event.
- Opponents from the ecologist, communist and LFI groups said they rejected the choice because Havas Events is linked to the Bolloré family and they worry about corporate influence and Cadence's limited record running races of this scale; supporters argued procurement rules and the bid evaluation left little room to refuse the highest‑scored offer.
- Practical effects for runners and the city include a planned ticket sale target for the autumn, a roughly ten‑month window for the new organisers to set up the 2027 semi‑marathon, and a wider political debate in Paris over using major public events with partners tied to powerful media owners.