IOC president Thomas Bach today expressed solidarity with the French people as a minute's silence was due to be observed at all major sports events in France this weekend in honour of the victims of a deadly terrorist attack in Paris.
Twelve people, including two policemen, were shot dead in the assault on the offices of the satirical weekly magazine Charlie Hebdo in central Paris yesterday morning.
"It was with an enormous sense of shock and grief that I heard of the appalling attacks," Bach said in a letter addressed to French president Francois Hollande.
"Such barbaric acts are an attack on the values of all civilised people from whatever country, religion or creed."
His comments come as France are set to make a decision whether Paris will bid for the 2024 Olympics.
"Let me assure you that the entire Olympic Movement, just as all right-thinking people, stand shoulder to shoulder with you and the people of France today," Bach continued.
"This was a shocking, brutal attack not just on France but on the values for which we all stand, and the values on which the Olympic Movement is also built.
"France is a country which stands for the civilised values of tolerance, friendship and respect. Those guns were aimed not just at journalists but at freedom of speech and the values for which France stands so strongly.
"But these terrorist atrocities will only serve to unite the people of France to stand together against such mindless violence and we in the Olympic Movement stand side by side with you and with France in solidarity."
France observed a minute's silence at midday today, and the tribute is set to be repeated at major sporting events across the country this weekend.
"Following the terrible attack yesterday at the headquarters of Charlie Hebdo, the French Football Federation has decided to observe a minute's silence in all fields of the Hexagon (France) this weekend, at national and regional matches," the FFF said in a statement.
"The entire family of French football joins the general spirit of solidarity and affirms its support for the families of the victims."
Rugby's French governing body also called for a minute's silence before all their matches from "school tournaments to professional games".
French basketball federation FFBB president Jean-Pierre Siutat president added: "The values of our sport and of sport in general should contribute to the fight against all forms of barbarity and to preserve the national unity which we all need.
