Kylian Mbappe has confirmed his desire to represent France at home at the Paris Olympics in 2024.
The Games will mark the 100th anniversary of the last time the Summer Olympics were held in France, and Paris Saint-Germain star Mbappe says being there is on his bucket list.
He was sucked into watching London 2012 as a child, and after being denied the chance to go to Tokyo 2020, he’s determined not to miss a thing three years from now.
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“It was while watching London 2012 that I realized the importance of this global competition,” Mbappe told L’Equipe. “The Games are the benchmark for sport, the holy grail of athletes.
“That’s when I told myself I wanted to be there too. I want to experience the Paris Games.
“It’s an inner feeling as if it was my destiny to participate in this big party in my city, in my country – 100 years after the last competition in France.”
If he makes it to Paris 2024, Mbappe will focus on getting gold in football – but he is keen to embrace the Games as a whole.
“I dream of going to other sports that we don’t have time to see,” he said. “Judo, handball, basketball, volleyball, canoeing – even skateboarding.
“These Games will be in France, the centenary in Paris. It is not the biggest competition in football, but you have to play the Games in your career. “
It seems the 22-year-old is still bitter about being denied the chance to go to the Tokyo Games earlier this year.
“For Tokyo 2020, I wanted to participate,” he said. “It was one of my goals. But they quickly pulled the rug out from under my feet.
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