France’s top financial watchdog has provided the first official estimate of public spending linked to the 2024 Paris Olympics, placing the overall figure at nearly six billion euros ($6.8 billion).

In a preliminary report released Monday, the Cour des Comptes (Court of Auditors) outlined that €2.77 billion has been allocated for organizing the Games, while €3.19 billion has gone toward infrastructure investments.

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However, Paris 2024 organizers have disputed these numbers, arguing in their response to the report that the methodology used is misleading. They pointed out that some of the expenditures included were made prior to the event and will continue to benefit the country long after, meaning they should not be solely attributed to the Olympics. They also criticized the inclusion of long-standing infrastructure projects in the Games’ financial assessment, calling it unjustified.

“The Court has avoided addressing the only question that truly matters for public debate: how much public spending would have been avoided if the Games were not held in Paris?” said Tony Estanguet, former head of the Paris 2024 organizing committee.

He further argued that the actual amount of public money exclusively tied to the Games is far lower than the six billion euros cited by the Court, estimating it at no more than €2 billion. Estanguet also highlighted that the expected economic benefits from the Games are projected to be three to five times higher than that figure.

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The Cour des Comptes clarified that its findings are based on available data as of March 31, 2025, and do not represent final conclusions. The report does not assess the economic impact, potential tax revenues, or tax breaks related to the event due to a lack of available information.

In its statement, the Court expressed dissatisfaction with tax authorities for not providing an overall estimate of tax-related expenditures and urged the government to conduct such an evaluation without delay.