Los Angeles spells out low-cost, bold Olympic future in Games pitch
Artist rendering of the Staples Center, L.A. Live Entertainment Complex and Microsoft Theater. The cluster would encompass the Downtown Sports Park for the 2024 Los Angeles Olympic Games. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
LAUSANNE (Reuters) - Los Angeles could deliver a low-cost, low-risk model for the Olympic Games, officials outlining its 2024 candidacy to the International Olympic Committee said on Tuesday.
Bid chairman Casey Wasserman said in LA's penultimate presentation to IOC members before the Sept. 13 vote that the city, competing with Paris, would serve the Olympic movement.
A general view of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The venue is the proposed site of the 2014 Los Angeles Olympic Games track and field and opening and closing ceremonies. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
"We don't believe in ultimatums. We don't believe this decision is only about us or Paris or 2024. This about the future direction of the Olympic movement," Wasserman said.
United States President Donald Trump later tweeted his support for the Los Angeles bid. "Working hard to get the Olympics for the United States (L.A.). Stay tuned!," he said.
Wasserman again left the door open for the 2028 Olympics, with Paris widely seen as the frontrunner for the 2024 event. The French capital, led by recently-elected French President Emmanuel Macron, presented its project after Los Angeles.
General view of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum peristyle and Olympic torch. The venue is proposed site of the 2014 Los Angeles Olympic Games track and field and opening and closing ceremonies. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The IOC will then vote on whether to ratify its executive board's recommendation to award on Sept. 13. both the 2024 Olympics and the 2028 Games at the same time.
Multiple Olympic track and field champion and LA bid official Allyson Felix said IOC members had asked about 2028.
"We clarified the focus is on 2024, but we would be blessed to have any Games," Felix said.
LA 2024 Chairman Casey Wasserman speaks next to Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti on the Lakers home court at the Staples Center during a news conference following a day of meetings with members of the International Olympic Committee Evaluation Commission for the Summer 2024 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, California, May 10, 2017. REUTERS/Mike Blake
Wasserman had earlier stressed the importance of the decision on 2024.
"This decision is about the future direction of the Olympic Movement. Our objective is to best serve your (the IOC’s) needs, not only ours," he said
"We are offering a city ready to go. We are offering a Games with no incremental costs. We are offering a lasting definition of Olympic sustainability."
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti speaks along with LA 2024 Chairman Casey Wasserman during a news conference following three days of meetings and tours with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Evaluation Commission as part of LA 2024's bid for the Summer 2024 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, California, U.S., May 12, 2017. REUTERS/Mike Blake
Four other cities -- Hamburg, Rome, Budapest and Boston -- have withdrawn bids, scared off by the size and cost of the Games, forcing the IOC to recommend the double awarding to make it more attractive for potential hosts.
LA officials highlighted the privately funded model, while stressing the involvement of the United States in the wider Olympic movement with thousands of foreign athletes training at U.S. colleges.
"We need bold new solutions and bold new thinking," LA mayor Eric Garcetti told reporters. "We want to leave something different."
A general view of the Los Angeles tennis center on the UCLA campus. The facility is a proposed practice site for the 2024 Los Angeles Olympic Games. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
(Editing by Alexander Smith and Pritha Sarkar)
(L-R) Mayor of Los Angeles Eric Garcetti, American sprinter Allyson Felix, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach and American sprinter Michael Johnson pose in front of the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland, July 10, 2017. REUTERS/Pierre Albouy Mayor of Los Angeles Eric Garcetti attends the briefing of 2024 Olympic Games candidate cities Paris and Los Angeles ahead of final election of 2024 Olympic host city, in Lausanne, Switzerland July 11, 2017. REUTERS/Pierre AlbouyFrench President Emmanuel Macron, Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo and French slalom canoeist Tony Estanguet attend the briefing of 2024 Olympic Games candidate cities Paris and Los Angeles ahead of final election of 2024 Olympic host city, in Lausanne, Switzerland July 11, 2017. REUTERS/Pierre AlbouyInternational Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach gestures during the IOC extraordinary session in Lausanne, Switzerland July 11, 2017. REUTERS/Pierre Albouy2024 candidate city delegation of Paris led by French President Emmanuel Macron gesture during the briefing of 2024 Olympic Games candidate cities Paris and Los Angeles ahead of final election of 2024 Olympic host city, in Lausanne, Switzerland July 11, 2017. REUTERS/Pierre AlbouyFrench President Emmanuel Macron and French slalom canoeist Tony Estanguet attend the press conference after the briefing of 2024 Olympic Games candidate cities Paris and Los Angeles ahead of final election of 2024 Olympic host city, in Lausanne, Switzerland July 11, 2017. REUTERS/Pierre AlbouyU.S. International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Angela Ruggiero, Mayor of Los Angeles Eric Garcetti and Chairman of the LA 2024 Candidature Committee Casey Wasserman attend the briefing of 2024 Olympic Games candidate cities Paris and Los Angeles ahead of final election of 2024 Olympic host city, in Lausanne, Switzerland July 11, 2017. REUTERS/Pierre Albouy2024 candidate city delegation of Los Angeles led by Mayor of Los Angeles Eric Garcetti attends the briefing of 2024 Olympic Games candidate cities Paris and Los Angeles ahead of final election of 2024 Olympic host city, in Lausanne, Switzerland July 11, 2017. REUTERS/Pierre AlbouyFrench President Emmanuel Macron and French slalom canoeist Tony Estanguet attend the briefing of 2024 Olympic Games candidate cities Paris and Los Angeles ahead of final election of 2024 Olympic host city, in Lausanne, Switzerland July 11, 2017. REUTERS/Pierre AlbouyInternational Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach welcomes French President Emmanuel Macron and French delegation at the briefing of 2024 Olympic Games candidate cities Paris and Los Angeles ahead of final election of 2024 Olympic host city, in Lausanne, Switzerland July 11, 2017. REUTERS/Pierre AlbouyFrench President Emmanuel Macron attends the briefing of 2024 Olympic Games candidate cities Paris and Los Angeles ahead of final election of 2024 Olympic host city, in Lausanne, Switzerland July 11, 2017. REUTERS/Pierre AlbouyInternational Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach is seen during the IOC extraordinary session in Lausanne, Switzerland July 11, 2017. REUTERS/Pierre Albouy
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