Bag with Paris 2024 Data Lost, Possibly Stolen, Prosecutor Says 

Workers set up a giant poster announcing the Olympic Games on the façade of the Solidarity and Health ministry in Paris, on February 27, 2024. (AFP)
Workers set up a giant poster announcing the Olympic Games on the façade of the Solidarity and Health ministry in Paris, on February 27, 2024. (AFP)
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Bag with Paris 2024 Data Lost, Possibly Stolen, Prosecutor Says 

Workers set up a giant poster announcing the Olympic Games on the façade of the Solidarity and Health ministry in Paris, on February 27, 2024. (AFP)
Workers set up a giant poster announcing the Olympic Games on the façade of the Solidarity and Health ministry in Paris, on February 27, 2024. (AFP)

A bag containing a computer and two memory sticks with data about the Paris 2024 Olympics has been lost by a City Hall engineer and may be stolen, the Paris prosecutor's office said on Wednesday. 

An investigation into theft has been handed to transport police following the incident at the city's Gare du Nord railway station late on Feb. 26, the office said in a statement. 

"Although he was careful to point out that his bag contained a professional USB memory stick ... it is important to specify that this stick only contained notes relating to traffic in Paris during the Olympic Games, and not on sensitive security plans," the office said. 

Paris 2024 organizers declined to comment. 

The Paris Olympics will be held from July 26-Aug 11. 

Some 30,000 members of the police force are expected to be mobilized every day during the Olympics, with about 300,000 spectators expected to attend the opening ceremony along the River Seine. 



Belgian Grand Prix Gets Contract Extension but Set to Be Dropped from Schedule in 2028 and 2030

Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany steers his car during the second free practice at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, Belgium, on Aug. 21, 2015. (AP)
Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany steers his car during the second free practice at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, Belgium, on Aug. 21, 2015. (AP)
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Belgian Grand Prix Gets Contract Extension but Set to Be Dropped from Schedule in 2028 and 2030

Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany steers his car during the second free practice at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, Belgium, on Aug. 21, 2015. (AP)
Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany steers his car during the second free practice at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, Belgium, on Aug. 21, 2015. (AP)

Formula 1 has extended its contract with the Belgian Grand Prix, but one of the sport's most established races is set to be dropped from the schedule in 2028 and 2030.

The extension starting from next year includes races only in 2026, 2027, 2029 and 2031, F1 said Wednesday.

F1’s push in recent years to expand the schedule with more races in the United States and Asia has meant more competition for traditional venues in Europe seeking to keep their places on the calendar.

The Spa-Francorchamps circuit, a favorite with many drivers for its flowing high-speed layout through forested hills, was on the F1 schedule for the first championship season in 1950 and has been on the calendar every year since 2007.

"The Belgian Grand Prix was one of the races that made up our maiden Championship in 1950, so as we kick off our 75th anniversary year it is fitting that we can share the news of this important extension," F1 president and chief executive Stefano Domenicali said in a statement.

"Spa-Francorchamps is rightly lauded by drivers and fans alike as one of the finest racetracks in the world and it has played host to some incredible moments over its many seasons in Formula 1."

This year's Belgian Grand Prix race weekend is from July 25 through 27, including a sprint race.