Mayor Garcetti Makes LA Pitch For 2024 Summer Games
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com/AP) — Mayor Eric Garcetti Tuesday helped make the city of Los Angeles' final pitch to be the U.S. candidate for the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Boston, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. also made bids.
"I was honored to meet with the United States Olympic Committee today to discuss our bold vision for a sustainable, affordable and inspiring Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games that will directly benefit our community," said Garcetti.
The International Olympic Committee will pick the site for the 2024 games in 2017.
After hearing presentations from the four candidates, USOC board members voted to join the race, but not until they have a chance to mull over the candidates during the holidays.
"It's a four-way tie," CEO Scott Blackmun said, not diverging from the federation's closed-lip policy on this yearlong selection process. "We had great presentations, now we have an opportunity to explore how everyone felt about the presentations. We'll reflect, come back after the holidays and see what's in the best interest for the United States."
This was the expected move from a federation that lost badly the last two times it bid for the Games — New York for 2012 and Chicago for 2016 — and hasn't played host to the Summer Olympics since the Atlanta Games in 1996.
The 2016 Olympics are set for Rio de Janeiro. The 2020 Games, which the United States did not bid for, will be in Tokyo.
America's chosen city for 2024 will be up against Rome and either Hamburg or Berlin. There will be others in the mix, as well, possibly including Paris, which is expected to announce its intention soon.
"There are some real good cities lining up," said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. "It's going to be a tough race. It's important to take the time to make the right decision, to find a city that represents a very bold message."
Los Angeles hosted the games in 1984 and 1932.
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